County approves park land funding

STAFF REPORT

LISBON — A plan to preserve land near Beaver Creek State Park topped a regional bid for state money, but a separate request to fund a wildlife area south of Salem was not.

A proposal that would complete the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail in Columbiana County also was funded.

Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel said Friday the state must still approve the funding proposals.

Each proposal, if funded, has to have a 25 percent local share from other funds to get the state money, he said.

The Natural Resources Assistance Council distributes money under the Clean Ohio Act. Columbiana is in a district with seven other counties that voted on the proposals.

The plan calls for the Columbiana County Park District to get $461,000 in funding near East Liverpool Road and state Route 7 in Madison Township. It would act as a buffer between the park and possible development.

The Greenway proposal would create a parking area and access to the hiking and biking trail in southern Mahoning County. It ranked fifth on the list of 18 proposals.

Alchemy Acres, which runs an animal shelter in Perry Township, wanted $472,000 to create a sanctuary on about 80 acres in Salem Township. It was third from the last in ranking.

More than 42 people signed petitions last week against the sanctuary proposal, citing the potential of barking dogs and other problems.

Hoppel said any program that wasn’t funded can apply next year.