Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to apply for grant funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program to acquire four properties for preservation of the City’s natural resources.
The Ohio Public Works Commission’ Clean Ohio Clean Ohio Conservation Fund is accepting 2026 applications for funding to preserve natural areas and green space. OPWC requires that a resolution, ordinance, or other written documentation to obligate funds for the project as part of the application. This ordinance is a commitment to provide the necessary match funds at a later date to satisfactorily complete the proposed project and become eligible for reimbursement under the terms and conditions of the grant. If the grant funding is awarded, future legislation will follow to authorize acceptance, appropriation, and expenditure of City funds.
The four properties have been broken down into three potential projects.
The North Star Project will acquire two properties, comprising 6 acres along the central reach of Alum Creek, in the near North East Community of Columbus. Both sites lie within a half mile of each other and would complete substantial missing pieces of riparian preservation along the waterway. These two sites will play an important role in the Recreation and Parks Department’s ongoing development of a “learning landscape” along the Alum Creek Trail, portraying the role the stream played in the 19th century route of the Underground Railroad.
The McNaughten Woods project would acquire 25 acres of high quality greenspace in the City’s Far East Community, near the Mount Carmel East Medical Campus. The site is in excellent natural condition and the project would provide the largest protected parkland in an extremely underserved community.
The Far West Greenspace Protection project would acquire a 75 acre parcel of land in the Big Darby Creek watershed for preservat...
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