Western Reserve Land Conservancy Forever Protects 1,000th Property
Western Reserve Land Conservancy has achieved the remarkable milestone of protecting 1,000 properties in perpetuity. Now operating throughout Ohio, the nonprofit takes a holistic approach to conservation, maximizing impact by working to safeguard natural areas, family farms, and urban spaces while connecting communities with the land that surrounds them.
“Protecting our 1,000th property is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when landowners, communities, public agencies, generous donors, and conservation partners work together toward a shared vision,” said Alex Czayka, Chief Conservation Officer at the Land Conservancy. “Each protected property represents a lasting investment in clean water, healthy habitats, working lands, and stronger communities. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on the next chapter of conservation across Ohio.”
A 21-acre property in Concord Township, Lake County became the Land Conservancy’s 1,000th protected property. Together with an adjacent Geauga County property that was protected by the Land Conservancy in June 2026, this completes Ellison Creek Woodland, a 57-acre conservation project with high-quality natural resources including 2,000 linear feet of Ellison Creek, a Class III Primary Headwater stream, and approximately six acres of Category 3 wetlands. The conservation impact expands beyond Concord Township—the preservation of this property’s waterways helps protect water quality within the Grand River Watershed.
The properties’ mature forests, wetlands, and intact stream corridor provide habitat for a variety of rare and state-listed species, including red-shouldered hawk, Acadian flycatcher, wood thrush, eastern red-backed salamander, big brown bat, hoary bat, and silver-haired bat.
Ellison Creek Woodland was completed in partnership with Geauga Park District, one of the Land Conservancy’s long-standing partners in Northeast Ohio. The two organizations have collaborated to create several public parks. Geauga Park District plans to manage the properties as a low-impact, conservation-based public park with future opportunities for trails and passive recreation.
“Western Reserve Land Conservancy is our most valuable conservation partner when it comes to assisting Geauga Park District with acquiring some of the most pristine natural areas in Geauga County,” said John Oros, Executive Director of Geauga Park District. “When conservation minded landowners contact us with the desire to conserve their property in perpetuity, our first line of contact is Western Reserve Land Conservancy. They possess the passion and dedication necessary to ensure a landowner’s desire to protect their property dovetails with our mission to preserve, conserve and protect the natural features of Geauga. Countless generations will get to experience some of the best parks in Ohio thanks to the strong commitment of Western Reserve Land Conservancy.”
The Land Conservancy was grateful to secure funding through the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund on behalf of the Park District to complete these projects.
Going forward, the Land Conservancy aims to continue expanding upon its multifaceted work, from continuing to protect nature preserves and working family farms to leveraging a recent partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund to transform 600 vacant lots into a connected network of green spaces in Cleveland’s Hough and St. Clair-Superior neighborhoods.