The following piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please click here.
Middle Bass East Point Preserve-Cleveland and Manderbach Dedication
On October 1st, 2020, the Put-in-Bay Township Park District (PIBTPD) dedicated a 2.89 acre wooded parcel purchased from Dr. William Cleveland and sister Beverly Cleveland. This Cleveland Tract located at the very eastern tip of Middle Bass Island adds acreage to the Middle Bass Island East Point Preserve. The site now boasts more than 11 protected acres of wooded and open land for migratory bird habitat, walking, and birdwatching accessible only by kayak or canoe.
These woods are being conserved, in part, by funding and technical assistance made available by TC Energy and its subsidiary Columbia Gas Transmission’s Leach XPress Pipeline Project in partnership with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Conservation Fund. A grant was also obtained from the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Fund for the purchase as well as a donation from the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy. The Park District is providing funds to remove invasive plants and trees from the parcel.
PIBTPD Chair Kelly Faris spoke at the dedication thanking those who assisted with the purchase. He reminded us how our familiarity with these beautiful Islands tends to make us forget how truly unique they are. Tom Bartlett explained the significance of the property for migratory birds and other wildlife. He and his wife Paula with their assistants, have banded birds on site for 8 years. The migratory bird data from this banding program has been crucial in securing funds for the purchase of the parcel.
Dave and Linda Bugoci unveiled the new kiosk/bulletin board/sign that they donated for the preserve.
Thanks to all who attended and to Theodora Keith-Morris, Ann and Ken Shelton, Chris Helman, Nancy Welter, Bruce Miles, Tina Larson, Susan Ungvarsky, Lisa and Russ Brohl, Bob Stausmire, Heineman’s Winery, and others who have volunteered and helped make this dedication and property acquisition a reality.
We appreciate the cooperation of the Cleveland family, Neal Hess of Conservation Realty Group LLC, Judy Twarek of Hartung Title, and legal advisor Marsha Collett for their assistance with this purchase and to the Schmidlin Construction, East Point Manor Club, Michael Hopkins, Bright Idea Sign Shop, and Wragg family for their cooperation with the refuse removal, construction of the new protective fencing, signage, and installation of the bat house built by Casey Carty.
The dedication also celebrated the donation of a half acre parcel by Ron and Marianne Manderbach. This parcel is immediately adjacent to the Costello Tract owned by the Put-in-Bay Township Park District. This area is currently reserved for migratory bird and wildlife habitat with no public access. A new sign was added to the current Costello Tract sign to mark the donation
About Put-in-Bay Township Park District
In 2006, the Common Pleas Court of Ottawa County, Ohio approved a petition to create the Put-in-Bay Township Park District as a local government entity. It was reaffirmed by the voters of the Bass Islands in 2008. Three Commissioners serve to manage and protect unique island habitats for the public to enjoy.
About Lake Erie Islands Conservancy
The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy was founded as part of the Black Swamp Conservancy in 2000 and received their own non-profit status in 2015. The mission statement of the Conservancy is to encourage conservation and protection of natural and agricultural lands in the Lake Erie Islands for the benefit of this and future generations. www.lakeerieislandsconservancy.org.
About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than eight million acres of land, including nearly 66,000 acres in Ohio. www.conservationfund.org.
About Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Fund
The Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program is dedicated to environmental conservation including acquisition of green space and the protection and enhancement of river and stream corridors. Grant recipients agree to maintain the properties in perpetuity so that they can be enjoyed and cherished for generations to come. The program is administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission. www.pwc.ohio.gov/Programs/Clean-Ohio.
Contacts: Kelly Faris, Put-in-Bay Township Park District Chair, 419-285-4772, kelmar@thirdplanet.net.
Editor’s note: look for an article on the Cooper’s Woods dedication in our December issue.
This piece of Put-in-Bay journalism has been provided to putinbaycondos.com courtesy of the Put-in-Bay Gazette, Put-in-Bay’s only local newspaper. Visit their website putinbay.news for more information and to subscribe!