ASHLAND — The Ashland County Park District’s Byers Woods is growing again.
At its Thursday morning meeting, the Ashland County Commissioners unanimously approved transferring 17 acres of county-owned property to the Park District to expand the 215-acre park, located at 675 County Road 1754 in Ashland.
“I think it’s the right thing to do, at the right time… I think It’s a mutually good deal for both parties,” said Commissioner Jim Justice.
In exchange for the additional acreage, the park district will take over mowing and maintenance of the new land and a portion of Freer Field that had previously been maintained by the county.
The 17-acre addition is located adjacent to the Byers Woods Park entrance, at the southwest corner of County Road 655 and County Road 1754.
The Park District has its own levy, Commissioner Denny Bittle said, which allows funding for maintenance.
Further, by transferring the 17-acres of land in this way, the park district could renovate an existing barn on the property and rent it for additional income, Bittle continued. This is not allowed when property is acquired through the state’s Clean Ohio Grants.
Already, one individual rents a portion of the property — a pasture — for sheep.
“That income can come back to the park,” Bittle said, providing the opportunity for the ACPD to generate a larger portion of its income.
In December 2019, another 40 acres was added to Byers Woods when the ACPD acquired a 120-acre tract of land through a State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Grant.
The Ashland County Commissioners received approximately $660,000 to fund the transfer, which created the 80-acre Tom Kruse Wildlife Conservation Park at the intersection of State Route 60 and County Road 1754.
Because the other 40 acres was located across County Road 1754 and directly adjoined Byers Woods, it became part of the existing park.
