LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Grail Land Preservation Group

  • [EXCLUSIVE FIRST RELEASE] Grailville land acquisition grant awarded to Cardinal Land Conservancy

    [EXCLUSIVE FIRST RELEASE] Grailville land acquisition grant awarded to Cardinal Land Conservancy

    David Miller is the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine

    Cardinal Land Conservancy Secures Future of Historic Grailville Site

    Threat of development leads to protection in perpetuity

    by David Miller

    Loveland/Miami Township, Ohio – In sending a press release with this good news for the Loveland and Miami Township residents who worked so tirelessly preserving 89 acres of land at Grailville “in perpetuity”, Andy Dickerson with the Cardinal Land Conservancy said, “David, we’re getting ready to send this out, but I wanted to send it to you first. We just found out this morning… good news!”

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    Andy Dickerson

    After a yearlong effort in collaboration with The Grail and the Grail Land Preservation Group, Cardinal Land Conservancy has received favorable confirmation from the Natural Resources Assistance Council District 10 that its application is being recommended for funding to the Ohio Public Works Commission.

    The $4.897 million grant through the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program will allow Cardinal to purchase 89 acres of the historic Grailville site in Loveland. Once used for spiritual growth, education, farming, and retreats, this property became a target for development in recent years due to its desirable location. Outspoken community members and former members of The Grail partnered with Cardinal to protect its scenic natural areas, historic buildings, and spiritual legacy.

    For over 70 years, Grailville served as a retreat center and organic farm for The Grail, an international women’s organization focused on spirituality, ecology, and social justice. The property includes woodlands, wetlands, and productive farmland. Its historic buildings date from the 1830s and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

    The House of Joy at Grailville

    The grant is the largest in Cardinal Land Conservancy’s 8-year history. It adds to the over 8,500 acres the land trust has already protected in Southwest Ohio. Cardinal holds and monitors 57 easements on private properties and the titles to 11 nature preserves to ensure the land is protected from development and maintained in a largely natural condition. Cardinal is based in Milford however hopes to relocate its offices to the House of Joy on the Grailville site.

    Sharon Scovanner (Loveland Magazine file photo)

    Loveland resident Sharon Scovanner with the Grail Land Preservation Group told Loveland Magazine yesterday, “Today was a big day. It looks like the funding is coming through which is just amazing. It feels amazing what we have been able to accomplish in these eighteen months.”

    “The protection of this new nature preserve in Loveland will be a huge benefit for the community as Cardinal Land Conservancy will protect it in perpetuity, said Dickerson in the early news release to Loveland Magazine.

    Cardinal will need to raise additional funds to restore select buildings on site for public and private use and eventually open the property as a public nature preserve. Dickerson says that restoration efforts will begin as early as possible. Cardinal also hopes to work with healthcare professionals to utilize this preserve as a place where they can meet patients and “prescribe” nature as a treatment for certain mental and physical health problems.

    This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is from an August public hearing before the Clermont County Commission in which members of the Grail Land Preservation Group and the Grail advocated Commission support for securing the grant.

    In this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video, Andy Dickerson explained the details of the grant and what he was asking the Miami Township Trustees to do.

    About Cardinal Land Conservancy:

    Cardinal Land Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust serving 7 counties in Southwest Ohio. Its mission is to preserve waterways, native habitat, farmland, and open space in Southwest Ohio by working with individuals, families, and communities. For more information, visit www.cardinallandconservancy.org.

    Read the History of Grailville

  • Clermont Commissioners give OK to Grailville grant application

    Clermont Commissioners give OK to Grailville grant application

    After the meeting, Commissioner David Painter came to the hallway where Grailville supporters and Cardinal Land Conservancy workers had gathered and congratulated them for their efforts. (Photo by David Miller)

    David Miller is the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine

    by David Miller

    Batavia, Ohio – On Wednesday, Clermont County Commissioners Bonnie Batchler, Claire Corcoran, and David Painter voted their unanimous support for the Cardinal Land Conservancy seeking a grant from the State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Conservation Fund that would be used to purchase 89 acres of Grailville land.

    Both the City of Loveland and Miami Township have previously voted their unanimous support for the grant application. Cardinal needed an affirmative resolution from all three governing bodies that have jurisdiction over land use at Grailville.

    Sharon Scovanner a leader with the grassroots, Grail Land Preservation Group told Loveland Magazine today, “Members of the community were pleased with the unanimous vote by the Clermont County Commissioners yesterday. This vote brings us one step closer to preserving 89 acres of Grail land in perpetuity.”

    Another member of the group and also a Grail Member, Elizabeth Murphy sent this statement:

    “For over 70 years the women of The Grail have tended this Grailville land. We have had the privilege and the pleasure of protecting and caring for this small piece of God’s Creation, and of sharing its peace and natural beauty with others. It is important to The Grail that the future of this land be in keeping with these values. We believe that Cardinal Land Conservancy will be an excellent steward of this property going forward, and it has been very good working with them to make this happen. We are grateful that all three government bodies – Loveland City Council, Miami Township Trustees, and the Clermont County Board of Commissioners have supported us. We look forward to having Cardinal as an active neighbor to our remaining Grailville property.”

    Scovanner added, “Cardinal Land Conservancy will now be submitting an application for Clean Ohio funding. A decision should happen later this year. The partnership between The Grail, Cardinal, and the community has been instrumental in getting us to this point.”

    There will be no direct local tax dollars used for the purchase.

    The below LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is when Cardinal Land Conservancy’s Andy Dickerson spoke to the Commision on Wednesday, August 17 about Grailville and how they intend to use the grant funds if their request is approved.

    The below LOVELAND MAGAZINE video is from Wednesday, August 17 when local residents made the trek to the Clermont County Commission meeting to urge support for a grant application to secure funding to preserve Grailvile acreage as permanent green space.

    Clean Ohio Program

    The Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program is dedicated to environmental conservation including acquisition of green space and the protection and enhancement of river and stream corridors. Grant recipients agree to maintain the properties in perpetuity so that they can be enjoyed and cherished for generations to come.

    CLEAN OHIO FUND

    DESCRIPTION
    • The Clean Ohio Fund is a $400 million state bond initiative first approved by Ohio voters in 2000. It was overwhelmingly renewed in all 88 counties in 2008 with strong bipartisan support from the executive and legislative leadership.

    • A public-private partnership, Clean Ohio restores, protects and connects Ohio’s natural and urban places by preserving open space and farmland, improving outdoor recreation, and cleaning up brownfields to encourage redevelopment and revitalize communities.

    Four separate Clean Ohio programs run a competitive selection process so that Ohioans benefit from the very best projects:

    – Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund: supports cleanup of brownfields for redevelopment; only public entities may apply.

    – Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program: preserves farmland; local sponsors such as non-profit land trusts and soil and water conservation districts submit an application on the landowner’s behalf.

    – Clean Ohio Open Space Conservation Program: preserves and restores open spaces, sensitive ecological areas and stream corridors; non-profit entities and local parks are eligible but not state agencies.

    – Clean Ohio Trails Fund: improves outdoor recreational trail opportunities; any public subdivision or non-profit entity in Ohio may apply.

    Clean Ohio Fund
    An Investment In Economic Revitalization, Family Farms & Environmental Health 388, 708, 153, 246, Clean Ohio Projects by Program: Farmland, Trails, Brownfields, and Green Space.
    Development of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cleveland was supported by Clean Ohio.
    © The Trust for Public Land
    Smith Farm, located in Fairfield County, was preserved with a Clean Ohio agricultural easement.
    © SWCD

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    All 88 Ohio counties have received funding and benefited from the Clean Ohio Fund. This critical state investment has:

    • Cleaned up nearly 400 abandoned, polluted sites.
    • Preserved over 26,000 acres of natural areas.
    • Protected over 39,748 acres of family farms.
    • Created over 216 miles of multi-purpose, recreational trails.
    • Leveraged additional investments to create a total economic impact of approximately $2.6 billion in public and private investments to date.

    BENEFITS
    • Helps catalyze economic activity in Ohio by creating new jobs and retaining existing ones in construction, goods, services, recreation, eco-tourism and high-tech industries.
    • Helps secure our agricultural base, Ohio’s number one industry, by helping to preserve working family farms.
    • Helps keep Ohioans’ drinking water safe.
    • Protects Lake Erie and rivers and streams by creating natural buffers to keep them clean.
    • Cleans and redevelops polluted abandoned industrial properties, protecting neighborhoods and spurring redevelopment.
    • Protects natural areas and develops miles of multi-use trails for public access.
    • Generates new tax revenues for schools and communities with redevelopment project spin-offs across Ohio.
    • Leverages additional investments to create a total economic impact of approximately $2.6 billion to date.
    • Does not raise taxes – each $25 million in Clean Ohio Fund bonds requires $2.3 million in annual debt service.
    • Helps keep Ohio environmentally sound, economically viable, and poised for the future.

    Clean Ohio Fund
    The Nature Conservancy’s Kitty Todd Nature Preserve in Northwest Ohio is supported in part by Clean Ohio funding.
    © Randall Schieber
    The site for the current Ohio Valley Surgical Center in Springfield was revitalized using Clean Ohio funding.
    © Ohio Development Services Agency

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    Read the History of Grailville

     

     

     

     

  • Grailville supporters speak at Clermont Commission meeting

    Grailville supporters speak at Clermont Commission meeting

    Batavia, Ohio – This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is from Wednesday, August 17 when local residents made the trek to the Clermont County Commission meeting to urge support for a grant application to secure funding to preserve Grailvile acreage as permanent green space.

    Both the City of Loveland and Miami Township governing bodies have previously voted their unanimous support for the Cardinal Land Conservancy seeking a grant from the State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Conservation Fund to purchase the remaining 89 acres of Grailville land. A successful application also requires a resolution of support from the Clermont County Commission, (Second step in securing grant money to preserve Grailville a success)

    Members of the Grail and the Grail Land Preservation Group spoke passionately urging the Commission to support the grant application. You will hear their unique perspectives on why the Grailville land is so important as greenspace, and a tourism attraction for Loveland, Miami Township, and Clermont County. There were discussions of the positive financial impact on the area, and Grailville’s important cultural past that can be preserved and continue for decades to come.

    If the Clean Ohio Conservation Funds are secured there will be no direct cost to local governments.

    This video is via the YouTube Channel of Clermont County.

    This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video below is Dickerson talking to supporters after the presentation was concluded. Dickerson expects a resolution will be voted on next week when Commisioner Painter can attend.

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    Read the History of Grailville

  • A Grailville up-date: Commission didn’t vote but plenty of optimism

    A Grailville up-date: Commission didn’t vote but plenty of optimism

    Batavia, Ohio – About 20 local residents, members of both the Grail and the Grail Land Preservation Group made the trek to Batavia and the Clermont County Commissioners meeting Wednesday morning to show support for a grant application that needs the support of the Commission. There was no vote because the resolution was not finalized, however, both President Bonnie Batchler and member Claire Corcoran listened attentively as Andy Dickerson from the Cardinal Land Conservancy made a presentation followed by several residents from Loveland and Greater Cincinnati espousing the benefits they see if the remaining Grail land is preserved as greenspace in perpetuity.

    The hold up on having a resolution in front of the Commissioners was because Commissioner David Painter could not attend and it was expressed that there were one or two remaining questions before a vote was taken.

    This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is Dickerson talking to supporters after the presentation was concluded. Dickerson expects a resolution will be voted on next week when Painter can attend.

    Both the City of Loveland and Miami Township governing bodies have previously voted their unanimous support for the Cardinal Land Conservancy seeking a grant from the State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio Conservation Fund to purchase the remaining 89 acres of Grailville land. (Second step in securing grant money to preserve Grailville a success)

    More at 11 as they say

    Loveland Magazine will be publishing speeches from citizens as they passionately urged the Commission to support the grant application. You will hear their unique perspectives on why the Grailville land is so important as greenspace, and a tourism attraction for Loveland, Miami Township, and Clermont County. There were discussions of the positive financial impact on the area, and Grailville’s important cultural past that can be preserved and continue into the decades to come.

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    For background: History of Grailville – The Grailville Archive

  • Second step in securing grant money to preserve Grailville a success

    Second step in securing grant money to preserve Grailville a success

    David Miller is the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine

    by David Miller

    Miami Township and Loveland, Ohio – “The members of the Grail Land Preservation Group in attendance were excited by the unanimous support of the Miami Township Trustees. The opportunity for open green space to be protected in perpetuity has been a desire for many group members,” said Loveland resident Sharon Scovanner.

    The quest to get formal support from three government jurisdictions moved to step two last evening when the Miami Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously to give their stamp of approval. Andy Dickerinson with The Cardinal Land Conservancy, based in Miami Township, appeared at the township meeting to explain the proposal and answer any questions. His appearance was probably unnecessary as both Ken Tracy and  Mary Makley Wolff, as well as Township Administrator Jeff Wright spoke enthusiastically about the Grailville land remaining greenspace.

    Loveland City Council voted their unanimous support in June. The next step is to seek the support of the Clermont County Commissioners. (Council endorses request by residents for Grailville grant application filing)

    The Cardinal Land Conservancy and many Loveland and Miami Township residents are asking local governments to lend their support to a plan that could save 89 acres at Grailville as dedicated green space in perpetuity. Dickerson, on behalf of the Conservancy, is requesting votes of support for a grant application that would be submitted to the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, to purchase 89 acres of the Grail property.

    This is the site where Drees Homes was denied the zoning change they requested in 2022 after local residents filled Planning and Zoning chambers to urge that the site be protected. The Kentucky home builder had requested the land become a Special Planning District which could have allowed 209 homes on the site. The same parcel is also where the Loveland City School District proposed building a campus until the funding they wanted was denied by voters in 2019. The site is bounded by O’Bannonville Road and State Route 48 (Oakland Road).

    After the re-zoning Drees requested was denied, local Grail members and other local residents coalesced to find the solution. The Grailville Land Preservation Group worked together to stop the zoning change Drees wanted.

    If the grant application is successful, the 89 acres of land would be deeded as dedicated green space in perpetuity. The proposed purchase by the conservancy would be adjacent to the 100-acre Clermont County Park District property, which was also acquired from the Grail using Clean Ohio funding.

    Scovanner added, “It has always been our hope that the land will be preserved to respect not only the legacy of the Grail and their members past and present, but to also be a gift to future generations. We appreciate our partnership with Cardinal and look forward to garnering support from the Clermont County Commissioners as the next step in the process.”

    In this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video, Andy Dickerson explains the details of the grant and what he was asking the Miami Township Trustees to do.

    For background: History of Grailville – The Grailville Archive