Western Reserve Land Conservancy Partners with Prairie Township to Protect First Franklin County Conservation Project

Western Reserve Land Conservancy successfully closed on a 57-acre property in Prairie Township, Franklin County—the nonprofit’s first completed project in the county. The site is adjacent to Prairie Township’s existing 110-acre sports complex, of which approximately 100 acres were also protected by conservation restrictions, creating a 157-acre conservation corridor.

The Land Conservancy partnered with Prairie Township to facilitate the protection of the property, which was acquired by the Township. The property is well positioned to support future public use, with a new segment of the Hellbranch Trail planned to connect nearby neighborhoods with the adjacent sports complex. Protection of the land aligns with Prairie Township’s Comprehensive and Strategic Plan goals to protect water quality, preserve riparian corridors, and improve community connectivity and walkability.

 “On behalf of the Prairie Township residents and Board of Trustees, I want to thank Western Reserve Land Conservancy for partnering with us on this land acquisition and conservation project,” said James Jewell, Township Administrator of Prairie Township. “With their assistance on the project, we will be able to seed the property with native prairie grasses and plant trees as we begin returning this land to a conservation area. We are excited to make this property a nature destination by further enhancing it with walking trails in the future.”

The now-protected property contains approximately 450 linear feet of Hellbranch Run, 740 linear feet of an unnamed tributary to Hellbranch Run, five acres of floodplain, and 15 acres of streamside forest. Surveys have documented the presence of Ohio Endangered and Species of Concern bat species, and multiple state-listed bird species have been identified on adjacent protected lands. The property is located within a priority conservation area identified by the Big Darby Accord, contributing to broader efforts to protect high-quality aquatic and terrestrial resources within the watershed. Future plans for restoration will include native tree plantings and converting the property’s agricultural fields into prairie pollinator habitat with native seed provided by Columbus Metro Parks, further enhancing biodiversity and water quality along Hellbranch Run.

 “This project exemplifies the impact of great partnerships on land with immense conservation potential. The benefits of public access to this property will span generations as individuals enjoy hiking through restored prairie pollinator fields and enjoy the serenity of Hellbranch Run,” stated Jacob Pries, Southeast Field Director at Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

Acquisition of the property was made possible through successful grant applications submitted by the Land Conservancy to the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) on behalf of Prairie Township. The property is now protected through a Declaration of Restrictions as required by Clean Ohio and a Notice of Grant Funding and Limitation of Use as required by LWCF. Funding for the restoration work will be supported by H2Ohio funds, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.