YELLOW SPRINGS — The Glen Helen Nature Preserve will transfer to the Glen Helen Association.
Antioch College and the Glen Helen Association made the announcement Wednesday afternoon.
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“Treasured by Antioch College students, alumni, faculty and staff for generations, the Glen Helen Nature Preserve has evolved from being an extension of our campus, as Birch intended, into an invaluable natural and community resource, and popular tourist destination,” Antioch College President Tom Manley said in a press release.
The Glen Helen Nature Preserve was gifted to Antioch College by alumnus Hugh Taylor Birch in 1929 as a memorial to his daughter, Helen Birch Bartlett.
Antioch College will receive approximately $2.5 million over a 10-year period as partial reimbursement for decades of investment in the nature preserve, according to the release.
“Antioch College has taken numerous steps to expand and protect the Glen Helen Nature Preserve, culminating in the conservation easements, which ensure that the land can never be developed," said Manley. “It is now time to take the next right step in maintaining public accessibility by putting the Glen Helen Nature Preserve in community hands.”
Glen Helen Association will obtain ownership and take on management and operations of the preserve once an agreement is finalized.
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“The Glen Helen Association has partnered with Antioch College for decades, not only to help preserve this special place, but to expand public use,” said Glen Helen Association President Bethany Gray.
The nature preserve draws more than 100,00 annual visitors from all over.
The agreement is expected to be finalized later this summer.
Glen Helen Association will create and announce a plan for the reopening of the Glen Helen Nature Preserve.
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