Grant application seeks to add 201 acres to preserve

HOWLAND -- County and township officials are supporting a grant application that, if approved, would add 201 acres to the township nature preserve.
The nature preserve, between the township park and Mosquito Creek, was selected last year by the Trumbull County Educational Service Center as its new outdoor learning center.
Trails are now being constructed on the property with funds from a $600,000 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant awarded last year to create the park.
A grant application township trustees approved Thursday seeks more money from the Clean Ohio Fund to buy 100 acres of undeveloped land, extending back from East Market Street north of Dairy Queen.
Howland has offered to combine that property with 101 acres it already owns in return for the grant. Under Clean Ohio Fund rules, development would then be forbidden on the property.
The money is being sought in the name of the Mahoning River Consortium.
The consortium, however, has agreed to transfer the land to Howland for preservation and public access if the grant is approved.
The application requests $175,000 to buy the 100-acre parcel from Martin Finegold of Howland, and $123,000 to build walking trails.
The land is within Mosquito Creek's 100-year flood plain and difficult to develop under today's environmental laws, said Darlene St. George, township administrator.