Hamilton County is a community that values greenspace and wildlife. By working together, we can pursue additional conservation projects to protect vital greenways, streams, hillsides and wildlife corridors for years to come. The passage of a 15-year, one-mill replacement levy in May, 2002 has provided the Hamilton County Park District with the means to partner with eligible agencies and organizations in Hamilton County to acquire greenspace, improve regionally significant outdoor recreation facilities and enhanc
e nature education programs.
ForEverGreen Conservation Program
In 2003, the Park District announced the ForEverGreen Conservation Program, a new partnership program for protecting greenspace. The ForEverGreen Conservation Program is guided by this vision statement: To preserve greenspace throughout Hamilton County through cooperative agreements in order to conserve natural resources and enhance biodiversity in areas such as woodlands, forests, grasslands, prairies, hillsides, stream corridors and floodplains.
How the Program Works
The Hamilton County Park District has established the ForEverGreen Conservation Program Fund using a portion of its Land Acquisition budget. Up to $7.5 million will be set aside during the next 15 years (2003 - 2017) to fund the ForEverGreen Conservation Program. This program includes three types of projects:
1. Collaborative acquisition of greenspace with local political jurisdictions and/or park agencies. The Park District will assist in the acquisit
ion of greenspace to be managed by the local political jurisdictions and/or park agency. If the Park District contributes on half or more of the total cost of the purchase of the property, then the Park District retains fee simple ownership and leases the property to the local agency. If the Park District contributes less than one half of the total cost of the property, then the Park District will acquire and hold a conservation easement on the property.
2. Collaborative acquisition of greenspace with non-profit conservation organizations. The Park District will assist in the acquisition of greenspace to be managed by the non-profit conservation organization. If the Park District contributes one half or more of the total cost of the property, then the Park District retains fee simple ownership and leases the property to the conservation organization. If the Park District contributes less than one half of the cost of the property, the Park District will acquire and hold a conservation easement on the property.
3. Collaborative preservation of greenspace with private property owners.
Conservation easements can be purchased by the Hamilton County Park District from private property owners.
Other Potential Partnerships
The Hamilton County Park District has developed partnership guidelines that enable it to enter into additional types of partnerships.
Regional Park Enhancement Projects
This partnership applies to existing parks that provide regionally important outdoor recreation opportunities that are compatible with the conservation of natural resources. The park must serve more than one community or municipality. The Park District may contribute funding and expertise to accomplish capital improvements, provided the Park District maintains sole autonomy over the expenditures. A lease, conservation easement or similar agreement will be required when the partnership projects resides on property owned by another public entity.
Nature Education Projects
The Park District will consider entering into education partnerships that provide an opportunity for Hamilton County residents to learn and experience the importance of conserving natural resources. Such programs may occur in partnership with other park and recreation agencies or public authorities to enhance existing or new programs. The Park District may provide staffing, expertise, equipment or exhibits as a contribution to the project.
It will not be appropriate to transfer funding to another park and recreation agency or public authority for ongoing or new operating expenses.
How To Participate
If your agency would like to work with the Hamilton County Park District through its ForEverGreen Conservation Program to protect greenspace, please contact Planning Director Ross Hamre at (513) 728-3551 or via email at rhamre@GreatParks.org.
Additional Acquisition Funding Source
There is an important new potential source of funds for greenspace protection that can be used in conjunction with the Park District’s ForEverGreen Conservation Program. The State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Conservation Program is a state-funded, competitive program that will provide eligible agencies and organizations with up to 75% of the cost of acquiring greenspace. Locally, the Clean Ohio Conservation Program is administered by the Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC). For more information on this program, visit the NRAC website or call the Hamilton County Engineer’s office at (513) 946-8906.
