Geauga Parks and Western Reserve Land Conservancy Partner to Conserve 183 Acres
Bates Creek Preserve is forever protected, soon to be open for public access
Western Reserve Land Conservancy and the Geauga Park District have partnered to permanently protect 183 acres of undeveloped forest land located along Rock Creek and Kile Roads in Hambden Township. The once privately-owned property where the Buckeye Retriever Club trained sporting dogs among the multiple ponds and streams will become a public park.
Bates Creek Preserve includes 87 acres of mature hardwood forest, 43 acres of high-quality wetlands, 21 acres of open meadows, and nine acres of ponds. It also boasts over 12,000 linear feet of tributaries and waters that lead into the Grand River and eventually Lake Erie. Conserving land that is home to the tributaries and creeks leading into the Great Lake ensures clean, healthy drinking water for millions of Northeast Ohio residents.
The property provides critical wildlife habitat for at least 16 rare, threatened, and endangered species including six conservation priority bird species such as the blue-headed vireo (Ohio Special Interest), black-throated green warbler (S3 vulnerable), and blackburnian warbler (Ohio Special Interest and S1 critically imperiled). Additionally, acoustic bat surveys conducted on the Property confirmed the presence of six State-listed bat species, including the State Endangered little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and five State Species of Concern, big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lariurus borealis), hoary bat (Lariurus cinereus), silver hair bat (Lasioncycteris noctivagans), and northern bat (Myotis septentrionalis). Four other rare or listed species, including northern clearwater crayfish (Faxonius propinquus), Ohio Species of Concern, mosaic darner (Aeshna), which is an uncommon to rare species, and Lecania cyrtella and Leptorhaphis epidermitis, two species of lichen that are new to Ohio were also documented onsite.
The Property will provide expanded opportunities for public access to green space for passive recreation and will continue to support the training and events of the Buckeye Retriever Club. “At a time when access to training areas is becoming increasingly scarce due to development, Buckeye Retriever Club is grateful to be partnered with Geauga Park District to keep this property protected and to continue to utilize these fields and ponds for retriever training. Each season the club hosts up to 1,500 retrievers at AKC licensed hunting tests and provides educational seminars for handlers and judges. Buckeye has had the privilege of utilizing this property for about 40 years and we are excited about this next chapter,” said President of Buckeye Retriever Club’s Board of Directors, Cyndi Poveda.
The site will be incorporated into the Park District’s extensive programming and events. “Acquisition of this property will protect 183-acres of significant natural areas and natural resources in Hambden Township and the Bates Creek watershed. It aligns with our mission to conserve and protect the natural features of Geauga County and will prove beneficial in providing outdoor recreational experiences to our residents, ” said John Oros, Executive Director of Geauga Park District.
The Land Conservancy secured funding, on behalf of Geauga Park District, from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund through Ohio Public Works Commission (Clean Ohio) and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection program (GLRI) through the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. The state and federal funds were used by Geauga Park District to acquire the Property. Additionally, the Property is permanently protected by conservation restrictions, ensuring it will remain in its natural state for future generations. “It is always an honor to be considered amongst our peer organizations in parks and recreation for the opportunity to receive public funding from sources such as Clean Ohio and GLRI,” said Mr. Oros.
“This is another great example of public and private partnership coming together to protect land in Ohio that has a huge impact on the health and well-being of our community,” said Amy Sargent, Conservation Project Manager for the Land Conservancy. “This property could have ended up being sold to a developer, its natural treasures lost forever. But instead, by partnering with the Geauga Park District and using state and federal funds, we were able to work with the landowner and ensure Bates Creek Preserve will remain open and accessible forever.”
“The opportunity to protect and conserve a 183-acre natural area that was well stewarded by the owner is a highlight for all of us,” said Mr. Oros.