Map of Protected Land
Since 1988, the vision of the founding members of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy has become a reality through the generosity of Villagers, who have donated land, funds or granted conservation easements. In fact, the majority of Village citizens have continuously supported the conservation movement by passing and then renewing multiple times, a 1-mill tax levy to fund the acquisition of land. This tax support is unique in our country and continues to be the major source of revenue for the purchase of land. As noted earlier, the Gates Mills Land Conservancy currently owns 218 acres of land and has conservations easements and deed restrictions on an additional 451 acres for a grand total of 669 acres, preserved in perpetuity.
While not an organizational entity of Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC), we consider ourselves a partner in the truest sense of the term and have teamed with WRLC on more than one occasion with excellent results. Our missions are virtually identical, but our activity is limited to land within the Gates Mills Village boundaries. We realize that we are an integral part of the larger geographical landscape and a major entity in the Chagrin River Watershed and take that responsibility seriously. Our recent successes with the Wick Property on Epping and Chagrin River Road as well as "Beecher's Brook" at the border of Mayfield and Gates Mills on Wilson Mills Road could not have happened without teamwork. We owe a vote of thanks to Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Cleveland Metroparks, Mayfield Village, the Ohio Public Works Commission's Clean Ohio Fund and many other organizations with similar objectives.
The purpose of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy Map of Protected Land (to the right) is to depict the protected properties within the Village of Gates Mills. Different colors are used to show the land owned outright by the Conservancy, properties with Conservation Easements as well as the 306 acres owned by the Village and the 546 acres owned by the Cleveland Metroparks within the Village.
Clearly, our residents and our Village Officials have had the courage and foresight to protect the natural, recreational and scenic resources of the Village and the Chagrin River Watershed. It is fair to say that in the realm of local land conservancies, the special synergy existing in Gates Mills is unparalleled in our nation.