The local chapter of Black Swamp Nature Conservancy has started a fundraiser online to construct a kiosk at Scheeff East Point Preserve. The kiosk will highlight the natural wonders of the preserve as well as the island in general. The Lake Erie Islands Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy, a local nonprofit, is the designated beneficiary and is working with the Put-in-Bay Township Parks District on completion of the kiosk.
The description of the project is as follows:
The Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve on South Bass Island is owned by the Put-in-Bay Township Park District (PIBTPD) and was dedicated in 2008. The Park District has no current funding source other than grants and various donations. Volunteers have done the mowing, trail maintenance, tree planting, litter removal, and bird nesting box monitoring on site. Donors have purchased the entrance fencing to the preserve, commemorative benches, and trees to restore the area. Grants from the Columbus Zoo paid for the current interpretive signs, trail camera, and bird nesting boxes. The LEIC-BSC was very involved in the preservation of this area providing some of the funding and the grant writing assistance for this project. The area is very special to residents and they have taken a special interest in seeing it preserved and used properly.
A newly proposed covered kiosk will include a panel recognizing donors, a panel with preserve rules, a bulletin board for ongoing programs, directional trail map, donation and brochure boxes, as well as photos to illustrate important natural history features to be observed during visits to the preserve in all seasons. This will include natural history information on the Lake Erie watersnake, migratory birds, wetlands, rare shoreline plants, and unique forest habitats on the Bass Islands.
The island of Put-in-Bay receives over 750,000 visitors annually according to the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce. Currently, there is no large sign letting the public know that the public is welcome to walk the preserve. Having a large kiosk would give us the opportunity to let the public know of the resource, convey the rules in an attractive manner, and explain the special environment that is present at the preserve. Visitors to the area will be more likely to appreciate and treat the resource with care if they are educated of its importance. Having an informational kiosk will help reduce misuse of the area by educating the public on our hours and restricted activities.