Ohio community seeks to buy 850 acres to create public forest link
Local stakeholders in southeast Ohio are working to acquire 850 acres of former coal-mining land to create a public community forest. The project aims to connect existing protected lands, creating a 74,000-acre corridor for biodiversity and recreation.
Why it matters
This initiative represents a regenerative economic and environmental model for repurposing industrial land for public and ecological benefit.
An effort in southeast Ohio could turn roughly 850 acres of former coal-company land into a publicly accessible community forest, creating a major connection between existing protected and recreational lands. Local stakeholders are negotiating with the Sugar Creek Coal and Mining Company to acquire the property in Dover Township and establish the Sugar Creek Community Forest. The project could ultimately link the Bailey’s portion of Wayne National Forest with Strouds Run State Park, connecting about 74,000 acres in Athens County. The details come from the announcement for the upcoming Sugar Creek Community Forest town hall, alongside information published by the Ohio Environmental Council and project partners.From coal-company land to a community forestThe proposed acquisition involves approximately 850 acres in Dover Township that are currently owned by the Sugar Creek Coal and Mining Company.
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