District-owned park areas

[Cindy Lair]

One of our conservation districts was “given” an historic 5 acre parcel of overgrown trees and decadent landscaping. It cost 10’s of $1,000’s to bring the landscape back to an acceptable standard and an historic building must be demolished and replaced. They are interested in knowing of other conservation districts that might manage parcels and how they offer it for use by the community and/or program it for conservation education purposes. If you have a district in your state that might be programming areas like this, would you let me know so we can have a conversation with them? Thanks!

[Johnna McHugh]

Kentucky has 3 districts that have purchased land through Kentucky’s Heritage Land Conservation Fund. They are in various states of restoration currently.

Logan County Conservation District (270-726-1371 or wesley.wright@ky.nacdnet.net)
Kenton County Conservation District (859-586-7903 or sheryl.vonbokern@ky.nacdnet.net)
Estill County Conservation District (606-723-5104 or eccd@outlook.com)

[Debra Bogar]

The next NACD U&C webinar will feature how properties are being used by two districts: the Grand Traverse Conservation District in northern Michigan and the Colonial SWCD in Virginia. Here is the webinar description.

NACD December U&C Webinar
Conservation districts use many ways to connect with communities. The next NACD Urban and Community Conservation Webinar will focus on “Outreach and Awareness for Urban and Community Conservation”. On December 17, 12:00noon-1:00pm Eastern time, this webinar will look at how two districts have developed centers that support their outreach efforts.

Marsha Clark, Executive Director of the Grand Traverse CD in northern Michigan, will share the history and work of their Boardman River Nature Center, which was built in 2008 after extensive outreach within the community. Tim Beale, Board Member, and Brian Noyes, Manager, of the Colonial SWCD in Virginia, will share the activities-to-date and goals of their multi-partners’ new Community Natural Resource and Farm Link Center.

These popular events, held on the third Thursday of each month, are sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company in partnership with the NACD Urban and Community Resource Policy Group. There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, email Debra Bogar at deb-bogar@nacdnet.org WITH your name, title, district or business name, state and email address. Information to access the webinar will be sent by email.

[Pat Harris]

Several North Carolina conservation districts manage land parcels for public benefit. Eagles Island is a good example. This 2,100 acre island is owned by the State of NC (NC Div. of Soil & Water Conservation, Dept. of Transportation and NC Ports Authority) and the New Hanover Soil & Water Conservation District. It is located in the confluence of the Cape Fear and Brunswick Rivers directly across from Wilmington, NC. For more information go to: http://soilwater.nhcgov.com/programs/land-conservation/

The successful management of the property is attributed to the Eagles Island Coalition (http://eaglesisland.org/). This multi-agency, municipal, and non-governmental organization partnership is focused on protecting the existing natural areas on Eagle Island and the lower Cape Fear/Brunswick River Marsh complex. The primary goals of the initiative include the following: (1) ensure water quality, (2) habitat conservation and restoration for wildlife and fisheries, (3) education and awareness, and (4) the establishment of passive recreational opportunities in the form of a canoe/kayak trail, hunting and fishing and wildlife viewing areas.

[Marc Cribb]

In SC, the Oconee Conservation District owns 7 acres with a historic building that they are using for educational purposes.
Contact Eddie Martin at edward.martin@scnacdnet.net or phone 864-638-2213

Also, the Jasper Conservation District owns and operates a Nature Center which includes a building and trials open to the public for educational purposes. The contact there is Lyn Tindal ltindal@jaspercountysc.gov or phone 843-726-7611

[Colleen Meredith]

A few of our soil and water districts are involved in leases of land which they use for demonstration purposed. It is agricultural land and currently the demonstrations are for cover crops. The leases are a very minimal amount per year (someone basically donates the land for the district to use). The only real estate any of our district own is their building and most of ours are in USDA buildings.

[Susan Metzger]

Slough Creek Point Educational Area on beautiful Perry Lake. This is a 329 acre tract of land that is leased by Jefferson County Conservation District. This is an outdoor classroom area for many local students. There are also public walking trails that are paved and are wheel chair accessible.

A little history. In the winter of 1999 the Jefferson County Conservation District began the development of Slough Creek Point Education Area, in Jefferson County, KS. Slough Creek Point consists of 329 acres of woodland, streams, grasslands, lakeshore, riparian areas, ponds and primitive camping areas.

Since 1999, the District has developed a wetland education area, which consists of ten different wetland types. They have also installed demonstration practices for landowners to observe e.g. a sediment control basin, a steep grass back diversion, a concrete block chute structure, and a riparian enhancement area consisting of over 1,800 trees They have planted approximately 30 acres of native grasses built and stocked a new pond for educational studies, repaired the existing road, rehabilitated the a shelter and restrooms, and constructed approximately three miles of handicap trails along with hiking trails that go up the hell and through the trees.

These projects were made possible through the cooperative efforts of the Jefferson County Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Glacial Hills RC&D, Kansas Forestry Service, U.S. Fish and Game, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas State Conservation Commission (now Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation), Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Western Resources Green Team, Quail Unlimited, and may volunteers.

This area has been utilized for many events such as Eagle Mania, youth summer programs, Leopold Education Project, Environmental Festivals, Regional Envirothons, Up Up and Away with Arbor Day, Loggers Workshop, Jefferson County Weed Department Tour, Youth Deer Hunts, Youth Turkey Hunts, Wounded Warrior Turkey Hunts, Chigger Festival and several boy scouts, girl scouts schools and other groups having a wide variety of educational programs.

Unfortunately in 2012 there was a devastating fire due to arson that burned down the main shelter house and some picnic tables. The Jefferson County Conservation District is currently building a new shelter. It’s not as big as the original due to budget cuts. We would like to ask for your help in building the new shelter, adding picnic tables and possibly a fishing dock. There are other things needed such as trash cans, repairs to the paved walking trails and repairs to the parking area.
Your donations will also help with purchasing supplies for our outdoor education festivals.

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