There is a lot going on at the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District.
The Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District has a new park and has made changes are some of our favorite parks. Executive Director Tyler Black told us that Biel's Buck Run Nature Area was developed along Sunderland Road on 50 mostly-wooded acres bordering the Auglaize River which was donated by the Biel family. It includes 2 miles of hiking trails, a pond with a dock, and bluffs overlooking the river. Heron Hollow Wetland Access is a wetlands that has been added to the south side of Kendrick Woods along Route 81. The park district received a $2 million grant from H2Ohio to enhance the 103 acres. Black said it was a major project that involved removal of much of the existing existing weeds and trees, digging areas for the water to collect, and planting vegetation native to wetlands in this area. The result is a beautiful restored wetlands with trails and hundreds of new trees. At Ottawa Metro Park, the fence has been removed around the beach and the former swimming lake has been re-graded and stocked for fishing. Other improvements planned for 2026 are tearing down the park district's former offices on Ada Road, roofing projects, paving at Ottawa Metro Park, concrete repair at Hermon Woodlands, and invasive species control at Heron Hollow. The park district also continues to make improvements to city, village and township parks throughout Allen County as part of its Continuous Park Improvement Grant Project.
Also at Monday's meeting, we inducted three new members of the Lima Rotary Club: Mike Knisley, a consultant for Remington Road Group; Tim Fitzpatrick, Business and Regional Workforce Development Director at the Allen Economic Development Group; and Lima Police Chief Curt Hile, Please make them welcome!
Lima Rotary Foundation President Michael Sarno gave an update on this quarter's grant awards:
Spread the Love – The board voted to approve a $1,000 grant to support Spread the Love, assisting in their ongoing efforts to address community needs and provide peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to kids that are in need of a meal.
Lima Symphony Orchestra - The board voted to approve a $3,865 grant to Lima Symphony Orchestra to help support educational outreach and community music programs.
Two other grand requests were tabled until next quarter.