A large plot of undeveloped and historically significant land along the Ohio River in Boone County was purchased this week to conserve its natural features and maintain a recreational greenspace for the public to enjoy.
The Boone Conservancy announced Wednesday that it purchased 350 acres of "pristine" Ohio River shoreline property near the community of Petersburg, Kentucky, according to a news release. The Northern Kentucky nonprofit, which is dedicated to land conservation, said in the release the $2 million acquisition "will safeguard vital land for generations to come."
“This acquisition has been many years in the making, and we are grateful to our many partners for making the permanent protection of this parcel a reality," Greg Larsion, chairman of The Boone Conservancy Board of Directors, said in the release. "As intense development continues to occur in Boone County, preservation of greenspace is critical for the quality of life of current and future generations, and we are excited to provide this opportunity to our community.”
The property sits directly across the river from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and is anchored on both sides by Petersburg and the Carroll Lee Cropper Bridge. It boasts more than a mile of riverfront, diverse wetlands and a mature forest canopy, the release said, complementing existing conservation areas in Indiana and Ohio.
Several species of wildlife also call the property home, including an endangered bat species and migratory waterfowl. This helped the Boone Conservancy secure support from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Fund and the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund.
"This tract has been on the conservation radar for many years and will benefit the local community by providing vital greenspace and recreational opportunities, while also protecting critical forest-dwelling bat habitat,” Lee Andrews, Kentucky field supervisor for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, said in the release.
In addition to it's natural features, the property holds historical and cultural value, being home to Native American sites, the ruins of a Revolutionary War veteran's home and the burial ground of individuals formerly enslaved on the land.
The conservancy will work with partners to develop a long-term vision for the property, aiming to balance conservation efforts with "responsible" public access and recreational opportunities. Archaeological and environmental studies will be conducted during the first year in order to fully understand and protect the site's unique resources.
Funding for the $2 million acquisition was secured through an 18-month campaign, with major contributions from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Program, the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund, Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, Boone County Fiscal Court, and numerous private donors, the release said.
The Boone Conservancy was founded in 1999 and manages more than 1,200 acres of natural land in Northern Kentucky. Aside from this latest purchase, the conservancy owns several other properties, according to its website: