Glen Helen’s iconic cascades streamed into Birch Creek on a chilly December afternoon. (Photo by Reilly Dixon)
Glen Helen meets $4.25 million campaign goal
- Published: February 29, 2024
The Glen Helen Association, or GHA, has announced the completion of its $4.25 million campaign, launched in June 2020, to purchase Glen Helen Nature Preserve from Antioch College, reopen the preserve to the public, restart educational programs and address urgent needs related to public safety and the ecological health of the preserve.
The campaign reached its goal with contributions from 857 donors, according to a press release from GHA.
The funding has gone toward securing the purchase of the 1,125-acre preserve, demolishing the derelict Antioch College Power Plant and keeping trails safe and open.
After a range of improvements to facilities, the Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center restarted residential programs for school children and summer Ecocampers; and the Glen Helen Raptor Center has a new rehabilitation complex, with a camera system to help improve the care of sick, injured or orphaned birds of prey.
Improving accessibility to the preserve for people with limited mobility was also part of the campaign, which funded the improvement of bridges and boardwalks throughout the preserve, as well as parking, trails and signage.
Visitors are now able to survey a beaver dam and pond from the vantage point of a new elevated boardwalk. Six bridges and boardwalks have been completed to date, with additional structures planned in the coming year. The most significant of the new bridges will be an updated span across Birch Creek.
“The bridge atop the Birch Creek Cascades is one of Ohio’s marquee scenic vistas,” Glen Helen Association Executive Director Nick Boutis said in the press release. “We’re looking forward to updating that view for the next generations of Glen Helen visitors.”
The GHA is inviting the public to a campaign completion celebration on Thursday, May 23, from 4–7 p.m., at Glen Helen. Activities will include two walks to tour progress made by the campaign and a reception to learn more about its impact. More information can be found at glenhelen.org/calendar.
4 Responses to “Glen Helen meets $4.25 million campaign goal”
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An amazing, but not surprising, accomplishment!
The residents of YS, past and present, always come through
for worthy causes.
Congratulations, Nick, on your persistence and dedication to this cause.
Great news! Such a treasure to be shared with today’s and tomorrow’s generations. I hope to see the pond come back to it’s previous state. On a trail that is no longer open.
Great news. The Glen is a treasure.