Western Reserve Land Conservancy is acquiring and conserving a critical six-acre property in Sullivan Township, Ashland County, Ohio, located strategically between two Ashland County Park District properties:  Tupelo Bottoms and Sprinkle’s Serenity.

The property is small, but it has the priceless ability to unlock the potential of its two neighboring preserves to enhance public outdoor recreation opportunities.

The property itself is a mix of forest and high-quality wetlands. Tupelo Bottoms is home to a rich mixture of forest, wetlands and vernal pools where more than 250 plants have been identified. Sprinkles Serenity, meanwhile, celebrates the agricultural heritage of Ohio with 20 acres of active farmland and an active forest restoration project, as well as a marsh created by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The connector property would allow for both wildlife and human visitors to cross seamlessly between the two properties. It is an invaluable missing puzzle piece, and a finite opportunity. Ultimately, Western Reserve Land Conservancy will transfer the property to the Ashland County Park District, which will manage the property as a passive public park in conjunction with the existing 41-acre Tupelo Bottoms and 103-acre Sprinkles Serenity.

The six-acre Connector is entirely forested and hosts a variety of native tree species, including red and white oak, sugar maple, basswood, tupelo, American elm, beech, and others. Some 74 species of birds, plants, and fungi have been identified in a preliminary survey, and 250 plant species (including wetland wildflowers like cardinal flower and small wild orchids) that have been identified in the surrounding parklands may also have a presence on the Property. Sixteen of the property’s bird species are rare, threatened, or endangered, including:  northern harrier, sandhill crane, trumpeter swan, bobolink, red-shouldered hawk, red-headed woodpecker, wood thrush, eastern meadowlark, great egret, chimney swift, northern shrike, and more. The high-quality wetland complex — which has been well-documented at Tupelo Bottoms — also extends onto this property and includes a buttonbush swamp. Wetlands provide important habitat and breeding ground to many species, including the four-toed salamander, which was documented on the property. 

Importantly, this six-acre property will also serve as the critical link to establish a contiguous 150-acre wildlife corridor. These high-quality habitats are all at risk of conversion or development if this site were not acquired and protected with deed restrictions. Opportunities for environmental and conservation education on the property following acquisition are abundant, particularly given the property’s accessibility to local schools, existing public access park infrastructure at Sprinkle’s Serenity Park, and the Park District’s commitment to cultivating partnerships.

• Total Transaction Cost: $86,220
• Atira Conservation Support: $7,600