The City of Lebanon, OH and the Miller Ecological Park Trustees called upon the natural resource expertise of Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (CMT) for this ecological assessment and management plan. The 97-acre Will and Harriet Miller Ecological Park contains passive, recreational areas with sensitive ecological areas containing rustic trails, as well as active areas that include a natural playscape, sledding hill, and permanent running trails.

The goal of the ecological assessment and management plan was to provide baseline ecological information on the park and develop a plan for targeted enhancement and protection of native ecosystems, to provide opportunities for promoting passive outdoor recreation and environmental education, as well as laying the groundwork for potential funding sources.

The proposed ecological objective for the park property is the development, restoration and enhancement of native ecosystems, accomplished through three primary activities:

• removal of invasive species,
• development of native habitats in currently degraded systems and
• adaptive management of existing ecosystems to prevent current or future degradation.

The management recommendations developed for the park were focused on the ecological enhancements and educational opportunities, which were aligned with the park’s mission, vision and purpose.

As part of the project, a comprehensive inventory of all park features, amenities and natural resources was completed. The information gathered during the ecological assessment and management plan facilitated the successful grant for Clean Ohio Greenspace Conservation funds. CMT also assisted the city with the technical elements of the grant submittal.