Park District Acquires Land at Crystal Lake

The Portage Park District recently acquired approximately 35 acres of wetlands, forest and open lake around Crystal Lake in Rootstown Township, thanks in part to a grant from the Clean Ohio Greenspace Conservation Fund, ensuring its permanent preservation.  The parcels are adjacent to property owned by The Ohio Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit land conservation organization, and the City of Ravenna, which formerly used the property as a municipal water supply.

Crystal Lake and its surrounding lands make up a rare ecosystem with multiple rare and endangered species that are important to conserve. “Portage County has the most natural lake surface acres of all 88 Ohio counties.  Of the 16 natural lakes in the county, Crystal Lake is now one of only five that are in relatively intact condition, without major shoreline development.  It is the last natural lake in the state to support a particular suite of rare plant species, making its protection crucial to preserving our natural heritage”, said Portage Park District Natural Areas Manager Bob Lange. Conservation is at the core of Portage Park District’s mission. Properties like this help protect drinking water, improve air quality, and provide valuable wildlife habitat.

Willis “Bill” Thomas, the former owner of the 26-acre parcel, expressed his appreciation for working with the Park District to conserve his family’s land: “Selling this land to the Portage Park District would make my dad and grandma proud. They both appreciated nature and felt a deep connection to the land. The stewardship work that Portage Park District does is fantastic for the residents of Portage County, including the wildlife and plants. It is a tribute to my grandma and father that their land legacy will be conserved so future generations may enjoy the beauty of Crystal Lake. It was a wonderful place to grow up”.

The other parcel was split from the DiPaola family property on Hayes Road, thanks to siblings Mike, Carolyn, Carla and Laura who sold it after settling their late Mother’s estate. “Our parents owned the property for over 60 years--they would be happy to have the land going to Portage County Parks”, said Carolyn Stout.

The property will remain closed to the public while planning and ecosystem restoration are underway, though the Park District hopes to offer occasional staff-guided “preserve peeks” in the future. For more information about the Park District and to sign up for its regular newsletter, visit www.portageparkdistrict.org, or call 330-297-7728.