Parks staff: US Fish and Wildlife grant will fund next phase of Duke Park riparian work

Parks staff told the Board of Park Commissioners Tuesday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a new grant to continue riparian corridor restoration at Duke Park.

Parks staff member Drake said Donny Knight of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service submitted the grant application and that the new award will fund additional invasive species removal, remediation work and plantings similar to earlier phases. "This next phase would include some off channel wetlands similar to what we've done north of Duke Park on the county property," Drake said.

Drake said the earlier work funded by H2Ohio dollars and the Fish and Wildlife Service had been critical to keeping the riparian corridor open and successful. "I have no doubt in my mind that without the U.S. Fish and Wildlife efforts and Donny Knight and all that was done there through the H2Ohio funds, that [the corridor] would have been closed, probably over a year ago," he said. He added that 2,200 saplings were planted in the first phase and that the park's volunteer group has been involved from the start.

Drake said staff expect to receive more detailed sketches and design documents and that, when available, they will present those to the board for any formal approvals the projects require. He said work could proceed as soon as late fall and continue through winter and early spring, weather permitting.

No formal action was taken; staff presented the grant award as an informational update and indicated the board will see further details and potential approval items in a future meeting.