Heritage Trails Park District opened its newest property, the 70-acre E.J. Mackenbach Nature Preserve, with a ribbon-cutting on Friday. The site sits just north of St. Marys at 14579 county Road 66A.
Roughly half the tract, 34 acres, is mature-growth forest; the remaining 36 acres have been converted to pollinator habitat and natural wetlands. Visitors have three miles of marked trails to use.
According to the district, the land was bought two years ago using money from the Clean Ohio Conservation grant fund and a U.S. Forest Service grant, with the Cleveland-based Western Reserve Land Conservancy coordinating the purchase. Executive director PJ Fought said it is the first and only Ohio property obtained with forest service grant money.
The preserve honors Edgar Joseph Mackenbach, a longtime St. Marys insurance agent, and his grandson, E.J.; the parcel stayed in the family for five generations, Fought said. He added that donations paid for a parking lot, restroom and wetland work, and that trail updates have been under way.
Park board member David Stilwell noted the district is marking its 30th year, said more projects are anticipated, and thanked voters who support its tax levy. Auglaize County Commissioner Doug Spencer pointed to the nearby Buckeye Trail, North Country National Trail and Miami and Erie Canal as reasons for out-of-town visitors, and asked the public to respect the wildlife on the grounds.