New Partnership Will Help Manage Cox Preserve
CLEVELAND—March 7, 2023—Medina County Park District (MCPD) has entered into a 25-year lease agreement with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to restore and manage a portion of the 69-acre Cox Nature Preserve, located on Wooster Pike Road (State Route 3) in Guilford Township. This agreement marks the first time the Museum, which stewards more than 12,300 acres of nature preserves throughout northern Ohio, has partnered with a park district to develop and manage the infrastructure at one of its preserves. The Museum's preserves largely consist of high-quality biodiverse lands that represent the best examples of the many habitats that historically existed in the region.
This unique partnership will allow for increased access to the preserve, making it the fourth Museum-stewarded preserve to provide public access. The level of access to the Cox Nature Preserve is made possible by the partnership between the Museum and MCPD, which leverages each organization’s complementary expertise. While the Museum will focus on biodiversity and conservation, MCPD will focus on creating an exceptional experience for the public.
“At the core of the Museum’s mission is the fostering of respect for and stewardship of nature. We put this idea into practice by protecting and preserving natural areas located throughout northern Ohio,” said Garrett Ormiston, Manager of Preserve Operations for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “Through our agreement with the Medina County Park District, we will be able to welcome the public to the Cox Nature Preserve. We hope to continue building these critical partnerships throughout our region.”
Formerly an agricultural field, the park district will work with the Museum to restore 21 acres of the preserve by managing invasive species, seeding approximately 15 acres with native wildflowers and grasses, and reforesting 5 acres with 2,500 bareroot seedlings. In December, MCPD’s natural resources staff began by seeding a portion of the property with a seed mixture funded by the Museum. Seedlings will be planted this spring.
MCPD Natural Resource Manager Jim Spetz stated: “We’re excited to be collaborating with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to help manage this portion of the preserve, both as a living ‘museum’ and as a diverse habitat for wildlife.”
Future improvements to the site may include a half-mile natural surface, mowed-in trail and a small parking lot. However, due to the sensitive nature of the wooded section at Cox Nature Preserve and the Museum’s focus on biodiversity, public access to this area will be limited only to special programs and research. Spetz said approximately 30 acres of the preserve includes mature forest habitat with some exceptional trees that may be more than 200 years old.
MCPD Director Nathan Eppink echoed Spetz’s enthusiasm for the collaboration but noted that it will be several years before an entrance and trail are considered.
Medina County Park District is a local and regional leader in conservation, education, and the protection of natural resources. Employees take pride in the parks, trails, programs, and community; ensure quality outdoor experiences; protect public investments; plant the forests and prairies of tomorrow; and develop the next generation of stewards. Established in 1965, the district manages 8,300 acres and over 50 different trails. For more information, visit medinacountyparks.com.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
Media Contacts:
Jill Teubl, Marketing Coordinator
Medina County Park District
(330) 722-9364
[email protected]
Samantha Guenther, External Communications Manager
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
(216) 403-4557
[email protected]