The Granville Village Council was presented with a resolution to accept two parcels of land from the TJ Evans Foundation totaling about 42.34 acres, a move the village says would clarify long-standing lease and maintenance responsibilities.

Resolution 2025-31, introduced during the meeting, would accept conveyance of the two parcels at West Broadway and Moots Run Road. Council members were handed a map during the meeting showing the two parcels highlighted; the acreage was described as “42.34 plus or minus acres.” The mayor said the parcels include an open farm field where sinkholes have been identified.

Village officials said research indicated the Granville Recreation District had been maintaining some of the parcels under an outdated assumption of lease custody; the TJ Evans Foundation told village officials it might simplify matters by deeding the parcels to the village. Under the deed discussed at the meeting, the parcels would be restricted to open space and recreation uses; the deed also would allow potential installation of observation wells because the land overlies an aquifer.

Council members and staff described two near-term projects on the site: preparation for aquifer observation wells to support a planned aquifer study, and repair of broken drainage tile on the property later this summer. The village said it had received easements from the foundation to allow that work in advance of the deed transfer.

The resolution was introduced and seconded during the meeting; a final vote on acceptance was not recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.

If the council accepts the parcels, staff said the village would likely take title and then consider minor improvements to maintain low-impact recreation uses such as boardwalks or natural-surface trails while preserving the property's open character.

The council's next steps include review of the deed language and any easement terms before a final acceptance vote; the deed restriction language discussed would limit use to open space, recreation or water-well observation.