By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
More than two centuries ago, William Henry Harrison and his exhausted troops took refuge on the banks of the Portage River – on land that would later become a county park named after the general and future president. The soldiers set up camp and waited for supplies and reimbursements delayed by flooding in the Great Black Swamp.
For decades now, the same acreage has been used as a place for family picnics, ball games, and crawdad catching.
Now it looks as if the park could more than double in size.
The Wood County Park District board voted Tuesday to purchase acreage north of the existing Harrison Park, located on Bierley Avenue in Pemberville – if the district can secure grant funding to help with the costs.
Park District Director Neil Munger said Pemberville residents Alton and Dolores Beeker approached the district about selling the 32.8 acres north just north of the park to the district. The agreed upon price was $425,000, which includes a house that the park district may use as a headquarters for its police.
The existing Harrison Park site covers about 22 acres. The acreage to the north is currently farmed and extends to the Portage River..
If purchased, “this is going to be very much a natural area,” Munger said.
The Beekers had inquired about a trail being constructed on the property, and connecting with the uptown area of the village. Munger said a trail is possible on the site, but several other properties sit between the park and uptown area, he said.
After acquiring some large areas and buildings throughout the county in the last few years, the park district board made the decision to focus on maintaining the acreage it already has – rather than buying more.
But Munger said this is an opportunity to expand an existing park.
“If we don’t buy it, he’ll probably sell it off for building lots,” Munger said he was informed by Beeker.
Munger also stressed that the purchase will only be made if the park district gets a large portion of the price through grant funding.
“Without the grant funding, we are not committed to buying the land,” park board member Denny Parish said.
The park board approved the request Tuesday for Munger to apply for grants from the Clean Ohio Green Space conservation program, and the H2Ohio grant program, which focuses on clean water.
Because the additional acreage sits along the Portage River, it would provide a filter for runoff into the river, he pointed out.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the park board accepted a bid of $99,000 to build a bike pump track from Tom Ritz Design and Pump Trax USA. The track will be constructed along the Slippery Elm Trail in Rudolph.
“We are hoping it is open in the spring,” Munger said.
In other business, the board accepted a bid of $16,377 for a steel-frame shelter to be constructed in North Baltimore along the Slippery Elm Trail.
The board also went into executive session to discuss a land acquisition issue, but took no action afterward.
