The Hilliard City Council is scheduled to vote on Sept. 28 on a proposal to transfer approximately 333 acres of conservation land to Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. If approved, the measure will expand Homestead Metro Park in Hilliard, Ohio, to 376 acres and push preserved land within the Big Darby watershed past 10,000 acres.

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The pending legislation updates existing development agreements with M/I Homes, allowing conservation land within the Hill Farm and Hill Farm II developments—including headwaters of Clover Groff Run—to be turned over to Metro Parks. Council members approved Hill Farm II in March 2025, a 300-home extension near Elliott Road that dedicated 186 of its 265 acres to open space. Council members also approved transferring about 35 acres from the Clover Meadows development in June. The broader land acquisition involves agreements with M/I Homes, Fischer Homes, Pulte Homes, and Rockford Homes.

The transfer aligns with a policy adopted by the City of Hilliard in 2023, which mandates that 70% of land in new area developments remain open space. That requirement exceeds the 50% standard established by the Big Darby Accord.

Under the agreement, Metro Parks will take over operations, maintenance, and regular patrols for designated regional trails. This includes about 2.4 miles of the Heritage Trail south of Hayden Run Road, alongside a path connecting Homestead Metro Park to Scioto Darby Creek Road through nearby neighborhoods. While Metro Parks will handle routine upkeep and security costs, both entities will collaborate on future trail construction and major renovations on city-owned land.

Metro Parks plans to restore natural habitats across the newly acquired acreage, including native prairies, forests, and wetlands. Future developments will focus on passive recreation and conservation, with potential additions such as boardwalks and natural-surface trails. Neither agency has established a timeline for these park improvements.

Hilliard Assistant City Manager Dan Ralley stated that prioritizing open space as the community grows creates an opportunity to permanently preserve land and expand access to nature for future generations. Metro Parks Executive Director Tim Moloney added that the partnership between Hilliard and Metro Parks will have a long-lasting impact across the region.

Source: NBC4 Columbus — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Golaha Hilliard oo u Codeynaya Ku-wareejinta 333 Acre ee Metro Parks

Golaha Magaalada Hilliard ee gobolka Ohio ayaa lagu wadaa inay taariikhda Sept. 28 u codeeyaan qorshe lagu wareejinayo illaa 333 acre oo dhul ilaalinta deegaanka ah, iyadoo loo wareejinayo maamulka Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. Haddii tallaabadan la meelmariyo, waxay ballaarin doontaa jardiinada Homestead Metro Park oo laga dhigi doono 376 acre, iyadoo sidoo kale dhulka la ilaaliyo ee deegaanka Big Darby watershed uu ka badan doono 10,000 acre.

Xeerkan ayaa wax ka beddelaya heshiisyo hore oo magaaladu la lahayd shirkadda M/I Homes, taas oo u oggolaanaysa in dhulka ilaalinta deegaanka ee ku dhex jira mashaariicda Hill Farm iyo Hill Farm II—haraha biyaha ee Clover Groff Run—loo wareejiyo Metro Parks. Golaha magaalada ayaa bishii March 2025 ansixiyay mashruuca Hill Farm II oo ah ballaarin 300 oo guri ah oo ku dhow Elliott Road, halkas oo 186 acre oo ka mid ah 265 acre ee dhulkaas loo reebay dhul furan. Sidoo kale, golaha ayaa bishii June horay u meelmariyay ku-wareejinta 35 acre oo ka tirsan mashruuca Clover Meadows. Dhulka guud ee la isku xirayo ayaa sidoo kale lagula kaashaday shirkadaha Fischer Homes, Pulte Homes, iyo Rockford Homes.

Ku-wareejintan ayaa waafaqsan siyaasad ay Magaalada Hilliard samaysatay sannadkii 2023, taas oo dhigeysa in 70% oo ka mid ah dhulka mashaariicda cusub loo reobo dhul furan oo natura ah. Xeerkan magaalada ayaa ka sarreaya heerka 50% ee ku calaamadsan heshiiska Big Darby Accord oo ay bulshooyinka kale u hoggaansamaan.

Heshiiska cusub marka la ansixiyo, maamulka Metro Parks ayaa la wareegi doona maareynta, ilaalinta, iyo dayactirka jidadka socodka ee gobolka. Waxaa ka mid ah illaa 2.4 miles oo ka mid ah waddada Heritage Trail ee dhacda koonfurta Hayden Run Road, iyo waddo ka timaada Homestead Metro Park oo sii marta xaafadaha u dhow ilaa Scioto Darby Creek Road. Metro Parks ayaa bixin doonta kharashka dayactirka maalinlahay iyo ilaalinta, halka labada dhinac ay ka wada shaqayn doonaan dhismaha waaweyn iyo dib u dhiska waddadaas ee dhulka magaalada.

Metro Parks waxay sidoo kale qorsheynaysaa inay soo celiso deegaannada dabiiciga ah sida dhulalka qoyan, dhirta, iyo kaymaha. Waxaa diiradda la saari doonaa ilaalinta dabiiciga ah iyo madadaalada, iyadoo la samayn doono jidad dabiici ah iyo meelo socodka loogu talagalay, inkasta oo dowladda deegaanka iyo maamulka jardiinooyinku aysan weli cayimin waqtiga rasmiga ah ee Mashaariicdan.

Maamule-ku-xigeenka Magaalada Hilliard, Dan Ralley, ayaa sheegay in muhiimadda la siiyo dhulka furan marka ay bulshadu kaceyso ay abuurayso fursad xaqiijinaysa ilaalinta boqolaal acre oo dhul ah iyo u kordhinta helitaanka dabiiciga ah jiilalka samatabixin doona. Dhankiisa, Agaasimaha Fulinta ee Metro Parks, Tim Moloney, ayaa xusay in iskaashiga u dhexeeya Magaalada Hilliard iyo Metro Parks uu saameyn waarta ku yeelan doono magaalada, gobolka, iyo meelo ka baxsanba.

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus