Home / Environment / Gravel Pit Transformed into 550-Acre Nature Preserve
Gravel Pit Transformed into 550-Acre Nature Preserve
9 Dec, 2025
Summary
- 550 acres of former sand and gravel mine are now a conserved park.
- Project secured funding from state, federal grants and private contributions.
- Future park will protect wetlands, lakes, forests, and wildlife habitat.
In Shalersville, a former sand and gravel mine spanning 550 acres has been acquired and permanently conserved, paving the way for a future public park. The Portage Park District, in partnership with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, spearheaded this initiative.
The property, encompassing both mined lands and unmined natural areas like forests and wetlands, was secured through a combination of state and federal grants. This collaborative effort aimed to restore and protect the landscape and its ecological value.
While the park's full opening is several years away, plans include offering nature programs and ongoing land management. The project successfully preserved critical habitats and received substantial funding from sources including the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Fund and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant.
