Upgrades in works for Montville park
Former Blue Heron Golf Course undergoing transformation
More improvements are planned for Austin Badger Park in Montville Township. File photo by GLENN WOJCIAK
MONTVILLE – Township trustees are still planning phases of development for their newest park but it has already become a popular place with nature lovers.
Township trustees purchased the former Blue Heron Golf Course for $500,000 two years ago with the help of a $350,000 grant from the Clean Ohio Fund to convert it into a park and nature preserve. Trustees said at the time it would take years to complete the envisioned makeover of the 252-acre golf course with seven miles of paved cart paths and some rickety wooden bridges.
The plan was to reopen the park in phases and rename three sections of the park after some of Montville’s original settlers and first township trustees. The first phase has been renamed Austin Badger Park and was dedicated last spring.
Trustees met Sept. 12 to discuss progress on more park improvements and the possible opening of Aaron Smith Park in coming months and Thomas Courrier Park in another year.
On the agenda was a plan to apply for another Clean Ohio grant for up to $100,000 to eliminate invasive species growing in the parks and protect an old growth forest by planting some additional native species. Trustees also suggested the grant application include funds for one or two shelters and stone benches along the trails.
PH. D candidate Chris Chaney helped Montville obtain its original Clean Ohio grant by documenting hundreds of plant and animal species living in the park. He met with trustees again Sept. 12 and told them he would create a park map indicating environmentally sensitive areas that should be protected. In return, trustees gave him permission to collect seeds from native plant species in the park that could be used to establish those plants in other areas of Northeast Ohio.
Trustees also gave permission to a volunteer group to add enhancements to an already popular mountain biking trail built in Austin Badger Park. Brett Robertson, a township police officer and mountain biking enthusiast, said plans call for building a series of wooden ramps along the existing four-mile trail, already rated among the best in Ohio by some mountain bikers.
Another popular feature at Austin Badger Park is an exercise trail outfitted with a series of exercise stations donated by Medina Hospital. Police Chief Terry Grice said the township recently received the equipment for an additional exercise station as well as some replacement springs for some of the existing stations.
Township Service Director Chris Kosman also told trustees his workers were ready to erect a new pole building near the Austin Badger parking lot along River Styx Road.
Township trustees plan to turn the new building over to the nonprofit group Intervention for Peace, which plans to finish the interior and convert it into a coffee shop and bike rental concession. The facility will be staffed by people with developmental disabilities. The operation will be similar to one operated by Intervention for Peace in Medina. That one is called Spokes Café and is located at the trailhead for the Champion Creek hiking and biking trail near downtown Medina.
The organization hopes to have the new Montville facility in operation later this year.
Township trustees purchased the former Blue Heron Golf Course for $500,000 two years ago with the help of a $350,000 grant from the Clean Ohio Fund to convert it into a park and nature preserve. Trustees said at the time it would take years to complete the envisioned makeover of the 252-acre golf course with seven miles of paved cart paths and some rickety wooden bridges.
The plan was to reopen the park in phases and rename three sections of the park after some of Montville’s original settlers and first township trustees. The first phase has been renamed Austin Badger Park and was dedicated last spring.
Trustees met Sept. 12 to discuss progress on more park improvements and the possible opening of Aaron Smith Park in coming months and Thomas Courrier Park in another year.
On the agenda was a plan to apply for another Clean Ohio grant for up to $100,000 to eliminate invasive species growing in the parks and protect an old growth forest by planting some additional native species. Trustees also suggested the grant application include funds for one or two shelters and stone benches along the trails.
PH. D candidate Chris Chaney helped Montville obtain its original Clean Ohio grant by documenting hundreds of plant and animal species living in the park. He met with trustees again Sept. 12 and told them he would create a park map indicating environmentally sensitive areas that should be protected. In return, trustees gave him permission to collect seeds from native plant species in the park that could be used to establish those plants in other areas of Northeast Ohio.
Trustees also gave permission to a volunteer group to add enhancements to an already popular mountain biking trail built in Austin Badger Park. Brett Robertson, a township police officer and mountain biking enthusiast, said plans call for building a series of wooden ramps along the existing four-mile trail, already rated among the best in Ohio by some mountain bikers.
Another popular feature at Austin Badger Park is an exercise trail outfitted with a series of exercise stations donated by Medina Hospital. Police Chief Terry Grice said the township recently received the equipment for an additional exercise station as well as some replacement springs for some of the existing stations.
Township Service Director Chris Kosman also told trustees his workers were ready to erect a new pole building near the Austin Badger parking lot along River Styx Road.
Township trustees plan to turn the new building over to the nonprofit group Intervention for Peace, which plans to finish the interior and convert it into a coffee shop and bike rental concession. The facility will be staffed by people with developmental disabilities. The operation will be similar to one operated by Intervention for Peace in Medina. That one is called Spokes Café and is located at the trailhead for the Champion Creek hiking and biking trail near downtown Medina.
The organization hopes to have the new Montville facility in operation later this year.