ThisWeek CW 02/06/2014

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/02/03/city-to-buy-property-on-gender-road-for-90000-for-park-space.html

Canal Winchester will increase its parkland by more than 7 acres, thanks to city council’s approval Jan. 21 of purchasing the property at 93 Gender Road.

Council unanimously approved the purchase through emergency legislation in order to expedite the closing process for land that has been in receivership for nearly 20 years, according to Development Director Lucas Haire.

“We’re in contract to purchase the old Boekhoff property,” he said. “We looked to acquire it in 2008 through grants, and for those of you on council back then, you know it fell through, but now the receiver is the court and we’ve come to an agreement for $90,000 to purchase that.”

According to Haire, the property, adjacent to the TS Trim site, was appraised for much more than the sale price.

“The court had it appraised at $104,000, so we got a good deal,” he said.

Haire said the city plans to develop much of the site as park space, which will eventually link several recreation locations for residents and visitors.

A timeline for developing the property has not been set yet.

“The intent is that the majority of the 7.6 acres will remain parkland,” Haire said. “Currently, the bike trail ends there, which is just across Gender Road, so the ultimate goal would be to connect that through this to the new Walnut Woods Metro Park and eventually up to Groveport’s trail system.”

Walnut Woods Metro Park, part of the Columbus Metro Parks district, is just south of the property at 93 Gender Road and includes more than 1,000 acres of trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and a dog park.