Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into two grant agreements with the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) for the 2021 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund (Round 15) - Cherrybottom Park Expansion Project. This ordinance will also authorize the appropriation of grant and matching funds. The total grant amount is $659,520.00, and the total local match amount is $256,480.00. There is a total of $916,000.00 in grant and matching funds being authorized by this ordinance.
Ordinance No. 0330-2021 authorized the Director of Recreation and Parks to apply for funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Clean Ohio Trails Fund. In February of 2021, the Department applied for Clean Ohio Conservation Funds towards fee simple acquisition of three sites in Columbus, including one along Big Walnut Creek in the Northeast area of the city and two along Mason Run, in the city’s Mideast Community. In May of 2021, the Department received notice that the grants were approved. This ordinance involves two grants that involve the expansion of Cherrybottom Park. The sites involved are Capitol City Baptist and the Venice Club.
Big Walnut Creek is considered one of the highest quality major waterways in Central Ohio. For several years, acquiring and preserving valuable riparian corridor along the north segment of the river has been a focus of the Recreation and Parks Department. This project will acquire two adjacent properties which would add 7.3 acres to Cherrybottom Park, a significant 90 acre parkland between Morse Road and State Route 161. The first site, known as Capitol City Baptist, is a 3.25 acre tract of natural land along the top of a ridge overlooking Big Walnut Creek. The second site, known as the Venice Club, is a 4.1 acre tract of land directly along Big Walnut Creek, including 450 feet of stream frontage, 750 feet of forested cliff side, and two high quality wetland areas. Acquiring these sites provides su...
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