The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is lighting the fire under a raft of new projects aimed at giving a facelift to communities saddled with the baggage of old coal mining operations. A cool chunk of change—funding courtesy of the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program—is set to flow into these initiatives that stitch together economic development and environmental reclamation. In a statement obtained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Director Mary Mertz flagged the multifaceted benefits, proclaiming, “These projects will contribute to local communities in several different ways, and it’s a bonus when these projects include expanding access to the great outdoors.”
Considering the past, where no federal mine site reclamation laws existed before 1977, today's America looks at these abandoned mine lands through a lens of opportunity and restoration. Spanning across several counties like Athens, Belmont, and Mahoning, to name a few, the AMLER program aims to breathe new life into these regions. For example, the Coaltivating Appalachia project in Athens County isn't just about prettying up an old mine shaft. It's about setting the table with a farm-to-table café and sweetening the pot with a native fruit and nut processing facility—ringing in at $1,708,300.
Outdoor enthusiasts aren't forgotten among the most about to unfold. The proposed Adena Trail and Visitor Center project in Jefferson & Harrison counties touts a two-mile recreational trail, prettied up with native tree plantings and educational signage, while reassuring cyclists with bicycle racks and parking. With a nod to history, an 1890s train depot gets a new lease on life as a visitor center diving deep into the local coal mining and railroad history, the package deal costing $2,231,095.
Business and pleasure entertainingly collide in Belmont County's Commerce Park project. Aimed at bolstering the Ohio Valley Region's economy and tourist pull, the endeavor conjures up visions of a modern amphitheater and a pickleball complex geared for tournaments. Meanwhile, the Tuscarawas County's Dennison Depot Restoration Center, chugging in with a $1,690,000 price tag, promises to ramp up the Polar Express Christmas Excursion experience with various station upgrades and facility construction. There's also the sound of hammers on the horizon for the Youngstown Business Incubator's project, prepping for the aerospace and defense industry demands in Mahoning County to the tune of $1,200,000.
Educational and infrastructural development isn't left in the dust, with the Noble Futures project in Noble County allocating $2,450,000 toward a brighter educational and economic prospect. Students and communities are set to drink in the benefits of upgraded water infrastructure, as ODNR channels its commitment to striking a balance between use and protection of Ohio's natural resources. More details on these and other projects can be unearthed at the ODNR website.
