Explanation
To accept the grant awarded to the Recreation and Parks Department and enter into contract with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the Clean Ohio grant program and appropriate the funds for acquisition. Grant title: Lower Big Walnut-Lockbourne Preservation CCFAF. The award is $306,000.00. The City of Columbus' share is $102,000.00. The total cost is $408,000.00 for the acquisition of parkland.
The Ohio Public Works Commission awarded $306,000.00 as a part of the Clean Ohio Grant program.
This grant is for the acquisition of property in the Lower Big Walnut Creek corridor to preserve high quality habitat and preserve the Natural buffer in the floodplain, which aids in flood abatement.
The floodplain is maintained for no loss of flood storage function, so that the habitat is preserved, and so that the wooded buffer/trees are preserved to assist in air filtration and flooding. This corridor acquisition supports trail development, which had the highest rating recreational activity in the CRPD 2003 survey. The Clean Ohio grant program preserves valuable greenspace in communities and aids sustainability.
The Stream Corridor preservation is a core function of the department and a priority since the 1974 River Corridor study. Letters of support were submitted with the grant from Friends of Big Walnut Creek Watershed Group, and the project has the support of the Central Ohio Greenways Committee and the Natural Resources Advisory Council of MORPC. Recreation and Parks is part of the Central Ohio Greenways program and preserving river corridors is a priority of this organization.
This ordinance will enable the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant and enter into an agreement with the State of Ohio - Ohio Public Works Commission, and provide for the appropriation of said funds to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund. Funding has been awarded to purchase future parkland known as the "Lower Big Walnut Creek". The target co...
Click here for full text