SANDUSKY RIVER CORRIDOR PRESERVED!

The Sandusky Wildlife Area is the name of a new 35 acre site that has  been preserved by the Crawford Park District, working in cooperation  with the Friends of the Crawford Park District, the Ohio Department of  Transportation, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The mostly wooded area is located along the Sandusky River about one mile west of Bucyrus. Funding for the purchase of the site from Larry Williams represented by  Katona Realty was made possible by a Clean Ohio Conservation Grant,  which provided 75% of the funding. The Friends of the Crawford Park District contributed $308, the Division of Wildlife contributed $5000,  and ODOT contributed $19,612 to together provide the 25% match needed for the grant. ODOT participation in the project helped provide needed mitigation for streams because of the Route 30 construction. Many thanks  to our partners in the project. Plans for the property include river  access for canoeing and fishing, a hiking trail along the river, and most of the property set aside as a public hunting area. Hunting will be  on a lottery basis to limit the number of hunters on site for safety and  wildlife management. Current plans call for the area to open to the public in the fall of 2005. Hunting will require a permit through a  lottery. Fishing and hunting will require the usual state licenses. Preservation of this site will help promote water quality, preserve wildlife habitat, and provide outdoor recreation to area citizens. For more information, phone the Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center at (419) 683-9000.