McCONNELSVILLE, Ohio — Paddlers on the Muskingum River, anglers in St. Clairsville and basketball players in Noble County will all benefit from a new round of recreation grants announced Tuesday, October 27, by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. The district said it is investing more than $975,000 through its inaugural Connecting Communities Grant Program, supporting 13 projects across the watershed that expand outdoor recreation, improve public access to natural resources and enhance quality of life.
Three of the funded projects are in Southeast Ohio. The Village of McConnelsville will receive $14,706.72 for its Muskingum River Paddling Access Improvement Project, the City of St. Clairsville will receive $53,996.98 for a reservoir floating dock and fishing pier, and the Noble County Commissioners will receive $7,500 to renovate the basketball court at Farley Park, according to the district’s announcement. Together, the three Southeast Ohio awards total more than $76,000.
The McConnelsville award targets one of the region’s signature waterways. The Muskingum River runs through the Morgan County seat, where the Morgan County Veterans’ Memorial Bridge links McConnelsville with neighboring Malta, and improved paddling access is aimed at making it easier for residents and visitors to get kayaks and canoes onto the water. The district said the grant program supports projects ranging from trails and river access to playgrounds and public spaces.
In Belmont County, St. Clairsville’s grant is one of eight Large Community Grants in the program and will fund a floating dock and fishing pier at the city reservoir, expanding shore-based fishing and boating access. In Noble County, the Farley Park basketball court renovation is one of five Small Community Grants, a category that also funded river access work in Knox County and a towpath connector in Wayne County, the district said.
The Connecting Communities Grant Program was established to extend the district’s investment in public outdoor recreation beyond its own parks and lakes, and it is funded through revenue generated from oil and gas development, according to the district. Interest was strong in the program’s first year: the district said it received 67 applications requesting more than $7 million in funding before selecting 13 projects through a competitive review.
"Investing in our communities is an important part of MWCD’s mission, and these grants allow us to extend our impact beyond our parks and lakes," Craig Butler, the district’s executive director, said in the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District announcement. "From developing trails and improving river access to creating playgrounds and enhancing public spaces, these projects will provide lasting benefits for residents while supporting the communities in our region," Butler said in the announcement.
The district said projects were evaluated on public access, project readiness, community and economic vitality, financial leverage and alignment with the program’s goals, and that the 13 projects together represent more than $6.4 million in total investment once other funding sources are counted. For Southeast Ohio communities, the next step is local: McConnelsville, St. Clairsville and Noble County will now move their river access, fishing pier and court projects forward with the grant funding in hand. More information about the program is available from the district at mwcd.org.