Three-acre parcel along Lawyer Road added to program, now totaling almost 700 acres
A very visible three-acre parcel of wooded property along Lawyer Road, between Royalwoods Court and Ravens Run Road, has been donated to Anderson Township’s Greenspace program. The acquisition puts the total acreage of Greenspace just slightly below 700 acres dispersed in 68 parcels located around the township.
The newest donation was received from Anderson residents Jim and Jean Glass. The Glasses also donated a trail easement about 10 years ago on which the township built a connection to link Raven’s Run and Treetops to the Five Mile Trail access drive off Lawyer Road. This linked several hundred homes to the popular trail.
Anderson Township’s innovative and landmark Greenspace program protects designated land in a natural state. Greenspace properties in the program include parcels smaller than a quarter acre to a couple larger than 100 acres. The Greenspace program has been in existence since 1991 when Anderson Township leaders worked with the Ohio Legislature. The program they created permitted Ohio townships to acquire, without the power of eminent domain, ownership interests in land, water and wetlands, and to restore and maintain such areas for the purposes of preservation.
Soon thereafter in November of 1990, Anderson voters adopted a .9 mill five-year Greenspace levy by a nearly two to one margin to fund such acquisition efforts. Voters renewed this in 1995 and it expired in 2000.
A citizen-led Greenspace Advisory Committee was formed in 1990, which has and continues to serve as the key policy and advisory group to the elected officials regarding Anderson Township’s Greenspace.
"Our Greenspace program over these many years has been very successful with bargain rate acquisitions and some donations,” said longtime Chairman of the Greenspace Advisory Committee Ron Edgerton. “Since most of the voter-approved funds have been expended, future purchases will be very limited. The generosity of this landowner to ‘donate’ this 3-acre parcel whose qualities reflect the best of what our Greenspace has to offer is commendable and very much appreciated,” Edgerton said.
Suzanne Clingman, the township’s Greenspace inspector, noted the township had been interested in pursuing this acquisition as it was important in helping keep the wooded character along Lawyer Road, also protecting the stream in this area.
The Greenspace program committee “continues to search for suitable parcels (especially donations) that meet stringent Greenspace criteria,” Edgerton said. Protected Greenspace locations are dispersed all around the community and within one-half mile of approximately 90 percent of homes in the township. Properties in the program are identified with Greenspace signs.
Anderson’s Greenspace efforts have served as a model for other communities, said Trustee Vice President Dee Stone, as Anderson has been named Ohio’s First Greenspace Community.
“We are grateful for this donation as we continue to be dedicated to the program that was started decades ago,” said Trustee President Josh Gerth. “As a leader in not only Greenspace but a community with over five times the national average of park and recreational space, this board and our staff are proud to be keeping it green.”