Celebrating Watershed Conservation in Windham

We’re happy to announce the conservation of 10 acres of beautiful forest, floodplain and streams along Eagle Creek in Windham Township, thanks to our partnership with the Portage County Land Bank!  The Land Bank recently contacted the Park District about potential ownership of the parcels they received through foreclosure, since it fit well with the Park District’s mission of conservation. We agree, and we are committed to its long-term protection and stewardship. 

“The Portage County Land Bank is always looking for practical ways to return vacant and underused land to productive use. It is especially rewarding to see these parcels incorporated into the Eagle Creek Greenway system, where they can support long-term conservation while ensuring the land is once again serving a meaningful purpose for the community”, said Olivia Pilon, Executive Director of the Portage County Land Reutilization Corporation, aka, the Land Bank.

This newest addition to the Park District is known as the Eagle Creek Greenway II Preserve, downstream of the Park District’s 325-acre Eagle Creek Greenway I Preserve in Hiram Township-- currently closed to the public while park planning is underway.  It is also just downstream of the Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve in Nelson Township, open year-round with trails managed by our friends at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

“We greatly appreciate our partnership with the Land Bank—they play an important role in enhancing our local community and efficiently using resources.  And while this smallish, soggy property isn’t prime for park trails, the conservation of natural areas like this protects water quality, biodiversity and wildlife habitat, which is beneficial to us all”, said Christine Craycroft, Executive Director, Portage Park District.

Portage County Land Bank works to return vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to productive use in ways that strengthen communities and create long-term public value. Depending on the site, that can mean supporting new housing, enabling redevelopment, transferring properties to local partners, or advancing conservation and green space initiatives. Across all of this work, the focus is on transforming problem properties into assets that better serve residents, neighborhoods, and the county as a whole. More information is available at www.pclandbank.org.