PIB Township Park District Outlines Projects
The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy (LEIC) and Put-in-Bay Township Park District have partnered on a major
conservation project on South Bass Island (Put-in-Bay, Ohio): The partnership involves a three part acquisition
program. The total project is over 30 acres.
Part 1: The Duff Woods Preserve has been completed and is open to the public. The Preserve is 13.5 acres of
island forest and karst features (wild cave, sinkholes, rock outcrops) with a trail and small parking area.
Part 2: The protection of 6.5 acres of property close to downtown Put-in-Bay. This site includes the historic Duff
Homestead, approximately 150 feet of natural bayfront property, a mature forestland, and two acres of meadow that
will be used for pollinator habitat. The bayfront is a yellow perch, sunfish, and native minnow nursery area as well as a
unique undisturbed submerged plant community supporting remnant populations of bowfin and gar. The property is an
environment for a host of native resident and migratory species, including the Monarch butterfly, bats, and songbirds.
The site is also habitat for rare species such as the Lake Erie watersnake, the Eastern Fox Snake, and the melanistic
Eastern Garter Snake. White-tailed deer, red fox, and an occasional coyote are found here.
The Duff home will be used as a visitor center and park district office. The adjacent woods will be preserved, and
the waterfront will be protected.
A Clean Ohio grant of over $1,300,000 has been awarded for the second phase of the project. The Park District has
received an additional $500,000 in pledges from the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy, Julene M. Market Fund, and
others. However, $200,000 is still needed to complete the purchase. The Park District and the Lake Erie Islands
Conservancy are also seeking donations to help restore this historic home site.
Part 3: The purchase of 11 acres of pristine vineyards, antique outbuildings, orchard, and garden with adjacent
current bald eagles nest would allow the creation of a historic farm park. It is the goal of the Park District to protect the
vineyard as a working farm with opportunities for classes, workshops, and special events.
The LEIC is working with Edward Jones Financial in Port Clinton, Ohio. This partnership will provide a smooth
process to enable donations of stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments to the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy, a
501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable foundation, for maximum charitable tax deduction. The Edward Jones contact is Bob
Candage at (419) 573-6247.
Donations can be sent to the Put-in-Bay Township Park District, P.O. Box 177, Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456, with
“Duff Homestead” on memo line. For electronic donations, the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy has a Donation button
on its website.
Please call Lisa Brohl, Chair of the LEIC, (419) 366-2087, if you have any questions. Additional photographs are
available upon request.
The mission of the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy is to encourage conservation and protection of natural and
agricultural lands in the Lake Erie Islands for the benefit of future generations.
The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy and the Put-in-Bay Township Park District have preserved, protected, and
provided public access to over 155 acres of natural areas on South and Middle Bass Islands.
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please visit the Put-in-Bay Gazette subscription form. This piece of Put-in-Bay journalism has been provided to putinbayohio.com courtesy of the Put-in-Bay Gazette, Put-in-Bay’s only local newspaper. Visit their website putinbay.news for more information and to subscribe!
