By Kristin Rover
Sun staff
The village of Amelia received an Ohio EPA Surface Water Improvement Fund Grant at the end of June.
Amelia Mayor Todd Hart said the $94,000 non-matching grant will be used to improve the surface water runoff at Spencer Shank Park in the village.
“It is to take our retention basin at Spencer Shank Park and make a meandering stream through it with vegetation native to Ohio,” Hart said.
Hart said the improvements will include plants surrounding the stream, wildflowers, and a place for a community garden.
Hart said the current retention basin is not aesthetically pleasing and does not help with surface water quality.
“It will improve the look greatly,” Hart said. “We are putting this around our walking trail. It will take an area that is less desirable and make it more desirable.”
Hart said John McManus with Clermont County Soil and Water Conservation District will be helping plan and design the surface water improvements for the park.
Hart said the improvements will also be used to help educate residents and visitors about water quality.
In addition to the retention basin improvements, Hart said the village is planning to separately fund a dinosaur fossil park for children to be located near the stream.
Hart said they are still working on developing the fossil park plans but hope it will be a great educational area for children.
Hart said the surface water improvement projects are scheduled for 2015 with a completion date of 2016.