Green Leaf Park in Medina County adds 15 acres, helps protect Wolf Creek
The Medina County Park District's first park is now 15 acres larger.
Green Leaf Park — which opened in 1972 and is located at 1674 S. Medina Line Road in Sharon Township — grew by 15 acres in June, thanks to a $231,964.50 Clean Ohio grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission, the park district said.
The 15-acre acquisition helps protect the Wolf Creek, which flows east into Summit County, ultimately reaching the Barberton Reservoir, which provides drinking water to the city of nearly 25,000 residents, the park district said.
"Green Leaf Park is a microcosm of what the park district is all about — nature, recreation, reclamation, preservation and the protection of woods and wetlands for the benefit of people and the ecosystem in which we live," the park district said.
The park district said it's been working with the landowners for several years to preserve the property.
Staff from the park district's natural resources department documented several spring wildflowers and neotropical songbirds on the property, with 144 native species of plants, animals and fungi recorded over three site visits. Large trees on the property include American beech and basswood, sugar maple and various oaks, with some of the trees as large as three feet in diameter.
“Its preservation benefits multiple counties and communities, and like so many of our successes, this one crossed the finish line because of the people involved including patient sellers and dedicated park district staff," Medina County Park District Director Nathan Eppink said.
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The application for the Clean Ohio grant included support letters from the Medina County Soil & Water Conservation District, the city of Barberton, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife, Summit Metro Parks and park partner West Creek Conservancy.
Green Leaf Park includes a .85–mile nature trail, 1-acre pond, 80-person capacity open-air shelter, sledding hill and a youth football/soccer field. The property was the Sharon Gravel Pit from the early 20th century to 1971, with tons of gravel and sand deposited by retreating glaciers excavated from the site.
Also located at the park is the Hard family log cabin (circa 1817), one of the oldest remaining dwellings in Medina County. The Sharon Historical Society moved it to Green Leaf Park, and the Medina County Herb Society maintains an herb garden near the cabin.
“The township is excited for the growth of the Medina County parks," Sharon Township Trustee Kim Miller said. "Now more than ever, families are wanting more open space and parks. The township is grateful for this property the district has worked so hard to acquire.”
Contact Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills at emills@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter @EmilyMills818.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Green Leaf Park in Medina County adds 15 acres, protects Wolf Creek
