By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The “Wintergarden Grows” campaign is underway to raise money to add about 20 acres of wild land to Wintergarden/St. John’s Preserve.
Bowling Green City Council had the second reading of an ordinance Monday evening to prepare for the transfer of the property from the Black Swamp Conservancy. On Tuesday evening, Park and Recreation Board President Jeff Crawford wanted to make sure the parks department can handle the additional acreage.
Kristin Otley, parks and recreation director, said the maintenance of the new land should not cause a problem since it will remain in its natural state except for some basic trails being added.
The Carlene Creps family, which owns land adjacent to the park, has signed an agreement with the Black Swamp Conservancy that protects the acreage from future development.
The Creps land, which is mainly open area, sits off Wintergarden Road, south of the park entrance. All of the property, except for the house and barn, will become part of the city park.
The Black Swamp Conservancy has selected Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department as the land manager for the new property. The city will be required to keep the property in its natural state.
“Our natural resources staff, all of us, have eyed that property for a while,” BG Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley said earlier this year. “It’s the last contiguous property to Wintergarden that we would have the opportunity to preserve.”
The conservancy has agreed to help purchase the land for $480,000, with the majority of funding coming from state and federal grants. The Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Foundation has agreed to raise approximately $100,000 toward the purchase.
“The park caters to those residents who appreciate a walk in the woods, a chance to study wildlife, an opportunity to recharge the senses and a place to breathe deeply in a nature setting,” the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Foundation fundraising letter to citizens states.
The park currently offers more than 100 acres of meadows, woods and wetlands for citizens. It has miles of trails, areas where families can eat lunch, play in the woods, and catch a glimpse of local wildlife.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Natural Resources Coordinator Chris Gajewicz reported on work in Simpson Garden Park. He said some “major management” was being undertaken along the south side of the park, with mulching added to control weed growth, plus the addition of native trees and shrubs.
The east area of the garden park, near the hospital, is being cleaned up. And renovation is planned for the Peace Garden, which has experienced a lot of erosion. The plan calls for the addition of terracing, with the help of the Master Gardener Program.
In other business at Tuesday’s park meeting:
- Otley announced the next community focus group meeting will be on Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., at the community center, with Carter and Ridge parks being discussed.
- The board learned the exterior of the new City Park building is being “buttoned up,” with interior work to continue over the winter. Otley said a park visitor recently commented on the new building, saying it “makes me wish I was a taxpayer in Bowling Green.”
- Otley said paving near the entrance of City Park will close the park to vehicular traffic for much of next week, starting on Monday.
- Gajewicz said some park staff is planning to attend an Ohio Wildlife Conference in November to learn about co-existing with urban wildlife. “It’s not something that’s going to change,” he said.
- Ivan Kovacevic, recreation coordinator, reported on the success of the recent Zombie Mud Run, and the growing interest in youth basketball at the community center.
- Mayor Dick Edwards inquired about plans for leveling and replanting Ridge Park. Otley said the open play area in the back of the park will be flattened and holes filled. The grass will be seeded in the spring.
