STONY RIDGE – The Perrysburg Township Trustees have declined to give money to expand a park that is in the township.
Chris Smalley, director of the Wood County Park District, asked trustees to contribute toward a land purchase that would expand J.C. Reuthinger Memorial Preserve, located on Oregon Road.
The reserve, whi
ch has been part of the park district for nearly 20 years, is currently 69 acres and includes the stewardship department, native plant nursery, a natural wetland and 5-acre pond.
Smalley said the district has the opportunity to purchase an adjacent 30.31-acre parcel for $1.2 million with the owner donating 3.11 acres of homestead.
“We’re working with other agencies to try to make our grant application competitive,” he said.
The park district has obtained financial commitments from the Wood County Port Authority for $80,000 and the Friends of the Park for $17,000. The park district will put $200,000 toward the purchase.
Smalley plans to ask the Wood County Commissioner today for an additional $400,000, which will allow the park district to apply for a Clean Ohio Greenspace Conservation grant for the rest of the purchase.
“Today, we’re reaching out to you,” he said at Wednesday’s trustees’ meeting.
He asked the trustees to contribute $100,000 or another amount if that is not available.
“This is one of those rare opportunities to expand that particular park. It’s kind of landlocked and will create an island of park in an otherwise highly developed area,” Smalley said.
The park district needs to show it has a significant portion — about two-thirds of the $1.2 million — to contribute, in order to be highly competitive for the grant, Smalley explained at the August park board meeting.
“We think this park would be a tremendous addition,” said Milton F. “Tony” Knight, whose family contributed the land for the W. W. Knight Nature Preserve in Perrysburg.
Knight spoke on behalf of the port authority.
Trustee Gary Britten said while it was a worthwhile project, the township was given 7 acres on Simmons Road several years ago for the purpose of developing a park, and they haven’t found the money to do that.
“We haven’t been able to throw any money at it because we don’t have any,” he said.
Trustee Joe Schaller concurred.
“I really think before we do that, we need to take care of (Simmons) park,” he said about donating to the park district.
“I realize it’s an extraordinary ask but it’s a rare spot and a rare opportunity,” Smalley said. “It’s really the only chance for growth for this park. And as we develop things like the Chessie Circle Trail and other connections throughout northern Wood County, this has incredible potential for the future of recreation in the township as well as the county.”
Jeff Steed, who is part of the Reuthinger family, which operated a dairy farm on the land, approached the park district about the property, Smalley has said.
The purchase will also allow access off Reuthinger Road, instead of Oregon Road north of Owens Community College.
The property would come with a large brick farmhouse from the 1900s, a large white barn and a farm field.
The grant application is due Friday.
