Conservancy transfers Redhorse Bend to Sandusky Co. parks

FREMONT — Black Swamp Conservancy has transferred ownership of its Redhorse Bend property to the Sandusky County Park District for use as a public park. The 93-acre property along the Sandusky River north of Fremont features more than one mile of river frontage. The land, which was previously frequently flooded farmland, was purchased by the conservancy in 2015 with funding from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund. "Our staff drove by this property for years and couldn't help but notice just how often it was often flooded," said Rob Krain, the conservancy's executive director. "This stretch of the Sandusky River is heavily influenced by Lake Erie and, since the farmland wasn't productive because of the flooding, we knew it would be perfect location to improve water quality." The conservancy recently completed a large-scale restoration of the property with funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources through the H2Ohio program. The formerly flooded farmland contains a variety of natural habitats including a functioning floodplain and wetlands, which help to filter phosphorous and other pollutants that are harmful to lakes and rivers. In addition, a pollinator meadow has been established in drier portions of the property, which provides wildflowers and plants that provide food to butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Redhorse Bend is the second property gifted to the park district by the conservancy in recent years as part of an initiative to expand public river access. River Cliff Park, a former golf course, was purchased by the conservancy and given to the park district in 2017. The park district recently moved its headquarters to that property. Together, the release said the properties bookend the city of Fremont with two public parks, collectively opening more than two miles of natural river access. The initiative represents a gift of more than $3 million to the community in land value and ecological improvements made by the conservancy. Black Swamp Conservancy is a land trust dedicated to protecting natural habitats and family farms, now and for future generations, through land conservation agreements. The conservancy does this to preserve the rural heritage, natural habitats and streams of northwest Ohio. Since its founding in 1993, the organization has permanently protected more than 21,000 acres of woods, wetlands and family farms in northwest Ohio, supporting healthy communities with sustainable economies including agriculture and ecotourism.