City looks to reclaim 50 acres

Joining county, park district to address Kings Woods

“I really love the opportunities here to turn this into a community type of project.”

Land that is a “thorn” in the side of Lorain city government could grow into a new forested park, according to a plan by the city and Lorain County Metro Parks.

Lorain City Council on March 5 voted 11-0 for an ordinance to accept a donation of land known as Kings Woods from the Lorain County Land Reutilization Corp.

The land is vacant now, but Lorain County Metro Parks Director Jim Ziemnik said it could become a unique swath known as a lake plain wetland pin oak forest.

“It’s a really cool long-term prospect, long-term project, but ultimately we would like to reclaim and restore this beautiful wetland forest,” he said.

The land is divided into multiple parcels in the area north of the railroad tracks to West 12th Street and from Arianna Avenue east to Ashland Avenue. Another

— Lorain County Metro Parks Director Jim Ziemnik

triangle-shaped parcel sits west of that land, and between the railroad tracks and Arrowhead Street.

City records show it is at least 43.85 acres; tallying up all the smaller parcels, it is close to 50 acres, Ziemnik said.

Council will hold a public hearing on plans for the land at 6 p.m. March 12 in the first-floor Council chamber at Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave.

History of the land

In the March 5 Council meeting, Councilmanat-Large Joe Kozuira and Councilman-at-Large Mitch Fallis recalled some history of the land, which was named for the family that once owned it.

About 30 years ago, the land was considered for a new water treatment plant for the city.

Since then, Kings Woods “has been a thorn in Lorain City government’s side for at least 25 years,” SafetyService Director Dan Given said. He explained the latest developments in a March 1 letter to Lorain City Council.

The land was slated for development, but when that failed, the land went into tax foreclosure. The city administration asked the Lorain County Land Reutilization Corp., or county land bank, to take ownership of it, Given said.

The city wanted to work with the county land bank “in creating a development plan so private investors wouldn’t turn it into something we would not be proud of,” Given said.

The city worked with Lorain County Metro Parks and Ziemnik, Given said.

“Together we have been able to develop a long range plan for parts of it to be used as a part of their systems of lands,” Given said. “As we all know, the Lorain County Metro Park system is a jewel in terms of their planning and operations.

“I am thrilled that we have been able to get them to work with us on creating a vision for these problem parcels,” Given said.

Reasons for skepticism?

At first glance, the land does not look like much, Ziemnik said. He conceded at first he was skeptical, but after consulting with some land use experts, Ziemnik said the land could become an example of a reborn lake plain wetland pin oak forest.

Lorain County Metro Parks hopes to work with county crews to remove invasive plants that have taken root in the land, Ziemnik said.

Once that happens, the land could be replanted with pin oak trees that remain readily available to grow in Ohio, he said.

“It’s a park-like tree,” Ziemnik said. “You probably find a lot on golf courses.”

The land would be a “wetland,” but in this case the term refers more to damp soil with drainage conditions not suitable for building, Ziemnik said.

The goal is not to create a swamp with standing water. The plan does not call for active recreational facilities such as ball diamonds, soccer fields or playgrounds.

But as the replanting happens, Ziemnik described how the land could teach students and residents about geology and the trees.

“I really love the opportunities here to turn this into a community type of project,” he said.

Anyone hoping for an instant change will be disappointed. The project will take years, Ziemnik said, because of the time it takes for trees to grow.