New Seneca County nature preserve opens

TIFFIN — The Seneca County Park Board was host to a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of their newest park, Clary Boulee McDonald Nature Preserve, located in Kansas. The 162-acre property features 1.4 miles of walking trails, with parking available in the North Lot at 5090 W. TR-36, and will be host to a hunting lottery for county residents on the east side of Wolf Creek starting Nov. 1-Jan. 31, with parking in the South Lot (4747 W. OH-12) reserved for hunters only. Executive Director Sarah Betts spoke at the event, saying that the park was — "many years in the making." She continued, explaining the history of the property and the park district's relationship with the Black Swamp Conservancy. The restoration project, according to previous coverage, began in 2021 following Black Swamp Conservancy receiving a $2,767,500 grant from the state's H2Ohio program. "The site was a prime area for restoration, located in one of the few stretches of steam in northwest Ohio that remains un-channelized and in a natural state with streambed riffles and very little undercutting of its banks," Betts noted. As reported by The A-T, the project aimed to restore 25 acres of floodplain forest and 33 acres of riparian woodlands with thousands of hardwood trees such as hickory, oak, hackberry and buckeye. Upon the restoration's completion, the property was donated to the Seneca Park District under a perpetual easement - meaning Black Swamp Conservancy will act as additional guidance and oversight for the property and any changes or renovations made to it. Betts concluded her words with a sincere 'thank you' before offering those in attendance a tour of the new trails.