Park district to decide if it’s time for heritage center project

Plans for an Agricultural Heritage Center at the county Park District’s Lost Creek Reserve may be pulled from the shelves this year.

A center concept plan developed through public focus groups was put on hold in 2009 because of a floundering economy.

With a somewhat improved economy, the park district’s board will consider soon whether it is the time to take the next step in pursuing the center on the former Knoop Farm east of Troy, said Scott Myers, park district executive director.

Before any construction can be initiated, the district needs architectural plans and a cost estimate.

“We need to know how much this would cost, so we can then make decisions” such as when and how to raise funds, Myers said.

The district’s headquarters is located on the property including the 1880s homestead used as the district’s offices.

The property along Ohio 41 ended up in the park district’s hands through a combination of donations by the late Mark and Dorothy Knoop and family and purchases of parts of the farm.

The Knoops wanted the property, settled by Knoop’s ancestors in the late 1700s, to be used for years to come to ensure children had a place to learn about the art of farming. “That was the vision Mark had, that the agricultural center would teach kids milk came from cows, not from Kroger. No offense to Kroger,” Myers said.

The district partnered with the Clean Ohio program and others to help obtain the land and begin developing the more than 400 acres.

So far, the homestead has been converted to offices and trails developed on parts of the property, among other projects.

Most recently, the district applied for more Clean Ohio funds for natural resources activities. Word should come within a month on whether nearly $190,000 for a $253,000 project will be approved.

Proposed work includes parking, a driveway, hiking trails, wetlands preservation and habitat protection work, Myers said.

The concept plan for facility construction envisions the center west of the main driveway to the reserve in an area that now is pasture.

A phased project is expected, probably with one building to start.

The first building likely would house educational facilities including the district’s education staff, some classroom space and a community room that could accommodate 250. The community room was a high priority with the focus groups, Myers said.

Future space would be for animals and related programming and a visitors’ center. The overall proposal also calls for incorporating — for both educational and economical purposes — sustainable concepts such as a solar panel and water retention facilities for watering animals.

Contact this reporter at nancykburr@aol.com

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