Abbott's river access moving toward change

Seneca Parks board approved a $49,900 contract with Patriot Hardscape Solutions Inc. of Canal Fulton to install Redi-Rock retaining walls and stairs at Abbott's Bridge Scenic River Area river access at Steyer Nature Preserve. The access is owned by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and leased to the park district, and the two agencies are sharing the project cost. Design and engineering have been completed for the project, which changes the configuration of the access to alleviate issues with safety, usability and erosion. The new design includes short steps to help with footing and a new angle toward the river to help with high-water problems at the access. Executive Director Sarah Betts said preparation work at the site will be done mainly by park staff, except for a portion that requires special equipment. Betts said Program Director Linda Rose is getting quotes and preparing to install a storybook trail at Fruth Wetland Nature Preserve in cooperation with Fostoria's Kaubisch Memorial Public Library. She said the trail will have 18 stations where children and their guardians can walk a trail and stop to read a story along the way. The story books will be provided by the library. Each station has an estimated cost of $350-$400, and the park district is seeking donors to assist with the cost. During her report, Betts said the H2Ohio ribbon cutting at Fruth Wetland was well attended July 16 with nearly 60 participants. Local and state agencies were represented in addition to several universities, including Heidelberg and the National Center for Water Quality Research, which will be conducting site monitoring. She said the local project was the first to break ground in Gov. Mike DeWine's H2Ohio initiative, and the first to be completed. Betts said master site planning for Fruth Wetland and Stayer nature preserves continue, and plans are scheduled to be ready for consideration this fall. She said the plans include site development for year-round and open-air under-roof program space, public use space, site accessibility and operational spaces, and were drawn from the countywide comprehensive plan. In the public programs report, Betts said there were 95 entries in the park district's annual photo contest this year, an increase from 79 entries last year. Entries included 64 from adults and 31 from youths. Winning photos were made into a retractable banner and were displayed at the Seneca County Fair, and the banner is now at Kaubisch Library. The photos themselves are on display at Tiffin-Seneca Public Library. Betts said 1,219 people participated in 48 park programs in July. "That's not including sasquatch sightings," she said. Betts said there a few spots left for children who want to attend Out & About Preschool this fall at Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve, Bloomville. Contact Linda Rose at lrose@senecacountyparks.com for more information. The board's next meeting is set for 2:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Bowen Nature Preserve, West Lodi. Board members plan to tour the house and hear a presentation about its history.