Statement from the Ohio Environmental Council on the Expiration of the Land and Water Conservation Fund

David Miller, October 1, 2018

Columbus, Ohio — The following statement may be attributed in full, or in part, to Ricardo Granados, Public Lands Coordinator for the Ohio Environmental Council:

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is essential for the future of parks and green spaces in every community across Ohio and the country. Local, state, and national parks have benefitted from billions of dollars of investment over the last 52 years through the LWCF. Congressional leadership allowed this fund to expire, putting into question the future of park funding across the nation.

“In Ohio alone, LWCF has contributed nearly $333 million to our public lands infrastructure, helping protect places like the Wayne National Forest, Hocking Hills State Park, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Across the nation, it has helped to protect Civil War battlefields, pioneer forts, Native American cultural sites, the birthplaces of civil rights leaders, and iconic landscapes.

“Congress must act soon to ensure that our communities don’t miss out on this critical funding source. Congressional leadership must work quickly to restore LWCF so our communities can continue to provide new recreational opportunities for future generations.”

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