Committee approves support for two Clean Ohio Fund applications for habitat restoration and trail conservation

The Education and Environment Sustainability Committee approved motions to support two applications to the Ohio Public Works Commission’s Clean Ohio Fund: a Cahoon Creek Habitat Restoration project in Bay Village and a Headwaters Connector Trail project in Solon led by West Creek Conservancy.

Megan Chaney, senior planner at the County Planning Commission and administrative staff for the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Fund, presented details. She said the Bay Village application requests roughly $790,000 to stabilize banks, restore habitat and create public-access improvements along Cahoon Creek on the shore of Lake Erie. "For this particular project, City of Bay Village submitted a request for a resolution of support for their project, the Cahoon Creek Habitat Restoration," Chaney said, and noted applications are due June 20.

Chaney also described a regional conservation and trail proposal from West Creek Conservancy asking for about $2,500,000 to preserve 58 additional acres and connect the Emerald Necklace and Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga County with the Headwaters Trail in Portage County. Committee members asked where remainder funding would come from; Chaney said final application materials were not yet in hand but that the applicant expects to leverage other grant sources and local match.

Because of application deadlines, the committee approved motions to suspend second-reading requirements and move both items forward. Members asked that staff report back on application outcomes when available.

What happens next: staff will send letters of support with the applications and the county will report back to the committee on award results.