The Village of Greenfield and City of Hillsboro are among 102 entiries that been approved for more than $4.4 million in project funding through The Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks grant program. The funds will be used to improve outdoor recreational opportunities for Ohioans across the state.

Greenfield will receive $16,063 for improvements at Mitchell Park including replacing fence, removing a sand area, and replacing a playground in a new location.

Hillsboro will receive $15,625 for phase I construction of a new trail named the Moberly Branch Connector.

“The NatureWorks grant program has been allowing ODNR to invest back into Ohio’s local communities for 25 years,” said ODNR Director Jim Zehringer. “We believe it is important to encourage people to spend time outdoors doing recreational activities they enjoy with the people they care about here in Ohio.”

The grants will be used to develop and improve public access for outdoor recreation facilities in 68 counties across Ohio. Projects include many new playgrounds that will replace outdated playgrounds, new picnic shelters, renovations to existing shelters, trails, trailheads, restrooms, baseball fields, basketball courts, amphitheaters and outdoor stages, fishing piers, kayak launches and much more.

NatureWorks provides up to 75 percent reimbursement assistance to local subdivisions of government (townships, villages, cities, counties, park districts, joint recreation districts and conservancy districts) for the acquisition, development and rehabilitation of recreational areas. The projects are funded through the Ohio Parks and Natural Resources Bond Issue, which was approved by Ohioans in November 1993. Additional legislation authorized the creation of the NatureWorks Grant Program.

Submitted by Stephanie Leis, ODNR Office of Communications.