Columbus – Senator Tom Sawyer (D-Akron) is pleased to announce the State Controlling Board today approved the release of $175,000 to the Department of Natural Resources from the Trust for Public Land. The Funds will be used to purchase the final 20 acres at the Goodyear Wingfoot Lake property.
“Goodyear Wingfoot Lake has played an historic role in the lives of many Goodyear employees over the years. Goodyear’s efforts to make the land publicly available to people of northeast Ohio started in 2009,” said Senator Sawyer. “This is the final step in a series of steps that the company began and the state is finishing in making this land a recreational asset for thousands of people in northeast Ohio.”
The property includes shoreline, wood lots and open areas. It also hosts various waterfowl, fish populations and bald eagles. The Department of Natural Resources hopes to protect critical habitats and increase fishing opportunities with the land acquisition. Currently, Summit, Cuyahoga and Stark counties all rank in the top ten counties in Ohio for hunting and fishing license sales.
The State Controlling Board today also approved the release of $1.4 million to the University of Akron. The funds will be used to purchase 2.4 acres from Interstate Brands Corporation for campus development.
“This new land acquisition is essential to the educational development of the University of Akron,” said Senator Sawyer. “Located in the central area of campus, the land will help the university in its long-term development plans.”
The property will house grounds maintenance, vehicle and equipment storage. The land was most recently used for production, distribution and retail of Wonder Bread and Hostess products. The purchase of the land will not increase tuition or scholarship funding for students.
The State Controlling Board provides legislative oversight over certain capital and operating expenditures by state agencies and has approval authority over various other state fiscal activities. Senator Sawyer serves as the only Democratic Senator on the board.
