Five Rivers MetroParks’ parks and conservation team will work with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to collect 450 used holiday trees for important conservation projects in local state parks.
Trees can be dropped off at Eastwood MetroPark, 1401 Harshman Road, from December 26th through December 31st and January 2nd through January 31st. The park will be closed on the 1st.
Trees should be free of decorations, paint and artificial snow and those dropping off trees should follow CDC guidelines, especially as it pertains to social distancing and wearing face masks.
Once collected, ODNR will bundle the trees and sink them into lakes to help foster aquatic habitats, which has proved to be successful.
“I can say from personal experience and from talking to countless anglers that these trees provide quality angling opportunities in our public bodies of water,” said Michael Porto, ODNR fisheries biologist. “They give novice and experienced anglers alike someplace specific they can expect to catch fish. ODNR completed a tree-sinking project at Cowan Lake State Park last year, and the results have been very popular.”
Five Rivers MetroParks and ODNR participated in a similar conservation project in early 2019, when MetroParks’ parks and conservation staff and volunteers and ODNR sunk nearly 750 trees into Eastwood Lake. The results of that project also have been successful, improving Eastwood Lake’s aquatic habitat and opportunities for anglers.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact MetroParks community engagement coordinator, Lauren Lemons at 937-275-PARK or [email protected]
