Hobart Nature Preserve Opens Today
By Nancy Bowman Staff Writer
TROY — The first official look at the Hobart Urban Nature Preserve will come today with a grand opening program and guided tours of the preserve being developed on 80 acres surrounded by residential streets.
Development of the preserve on former farm land donated to the Miami County Park District a decade ago by the William and Peter Hobart, William Howell and Robert Bravo families of the Hobart Brothers Co. will take years, but it is far enough along that it’s being opened to visitors.
Walking tours will follow an 11 a.m. opening ceremony, with a second tour planned for 7 p.m. for those unable to attend the morning events. The park is behind houses along Dorset Road, Ridge Avenue, McKaig Avenue and West Main Street.
Jerry Eldred, county park district executive director, said the preserve is a work in progress, with more than $1.3 million spent so far on elements such as a lake, wetlands, prairies and a walking trail.
"You won’t find benches, playground equipment. You will find birds, wildlife," Eldred said.
Grants, donations by the Hobart family and park district levy funds have gone toward the preserve. A One Tree at a Time campaign is helping buy some of the 10,000 trees called for in the preserve master plan. Approximately 2,000 trees have been planted so far.
Troy Mayor Mike Beamish called the preserve "a treasure that will keep growing" and an example of what can be done when people, organizations and governments work together.
He’ll be among today’s speakers, who also include William and Peter Hobart; Chris Manning of Human Nature landscape architects; John Wannemacher, park board president; Eldred; Laurence Bicking from the Ohio Public Works Commission; and Sean Logan of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
How to Go What: Opening of Hobart Urban Nature Preserve followed by walking tours When: Today, 11 a.m. Where: 1400 Tyrone Road, Troy Directions: Interstate 75 to Ohio 41 east to Dorset Road. Turn right (south) on Dorset to Tyrone then left to the preserve.
(c) 2007 Dayton Daily News. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.