CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Ross County commissioners voted Sept. 8 to formally support the Ross County Park District’s bid to acquire 118 acres of land that would expand protections around the Kinnikinnick Fen and Herron Downs wetland complex, a project that could grow the preserved habitat to an estimated 450 acres.
The board approved a letter of support for the acquisition at its regular meeting. The land would serve as a buffer for the Kinnikinnick Fen and Herron Downs nature preserve properties and Kinnikinnick Creek, according to the county.
An initial environmental assessment found the property contains a significant water flow path that feeds the wetland at Herron Downs, according to the county. If the acquisition receives funding through the state’s Clean Ohio program, the Herron family has offered to donate the house on the property, along with about three acres surrounding it, to the park district.
Commissioners also approved a letter of support for the village of Clarksburg’s application to Ohio’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Reclamation program. The village’s proposal, called “Clarksburg Community Renewal: Park & People Revitalization Initiative,” seeks to convert abandoned mine land into community spaces as part of an effort to diversify the local economy, the county said.
In other action, the board approved a $32,714.60 subgrant agreement for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, funded through the U.S. Department of Justice and the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services. The grant supports a task force that investigates drug and major crimes cases; commissioners said the goal is to generate 270 such cases in 2026, a 5% increase over the 257 cases the task force opened in 2025.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Ross County Board of Commissioners.
