BELLVILLE — You’re not imagining things if you’ve spotted what looks like a construction zone at the Alexander Road crossing of the B&O Trail lately.

The former field is transforming into a riverside wetland and it promises to be one of Richland County’s most exciting new natural spaces.

The Richland County Park District (RCPD) partnered with West Creek Conservancy to restore more 70 acres of land donated by the Gorman family. About 20 acres of agricultural fields will return to wetland, while roughly 50 acres of forest will thrive alongside it.

(Story continues below photo. Aerial shot of the hummock and hollow at Oxbow Woods. Credit: David Ike Photography)

Hands-on restoration in action for wetland

According to Richland County Park District natural resources manager Rachael Glover, the project tackles one of the county’s biggest environmental challenges with an H2Ohio grant — improving water quality in the Muskingum River Watershed.

“Our rivers are currently facing decreasing water quality due to sedimentation and nutrient loading, making the mitigation of these issues a priority for the health of our water systems,” she said.

“Wetlands act like sponges, filtering rain and runoff before it reaches rivers such as the Mohican and its forks, the Clear Fork and Black Fork,” Glover said.

Biohabitats, an ecological restoration firm, began work in the fall of 2025 with the initial phase completed in the winter. Glover said their approach included many different areas.

Hummocks and hollows: Small hills and holes which mimic the ground disturbance created by a tree naturally falling and uplifting its roots and the surrounding soil — creating microhabitats supporting a diversity of plants and wildlife.

Native seeding: Prairie and wetland seeds stabilize soil, provide wildlife cover and filter out nutrients before they reach waterways.

Tree plantings: Fenced clusters called “pods,” will protect newly planted Sycamore, Cottonwood, Red Maple and White Pine trees, which will naturally spread to reforest the area.

Vernal pools: Shallow holes fill with water in the spring, providing seasonal habitats for wildlife including amphibians and other aquatic animals.

Live stakes: Dormant woody cuttings including some from local trees. This is an inexpensive way to introduce a large quantity of woody plants to the site — creating root systems stabilizing the soil and providing food and shelter for wildlife.

Invasive species removal: In the spring, restoration will continue with a large-scale invasive removal, including species such as Honeysuckle, Autumn Olive, Border Privet and Phragmites.

Oxbow Woods: Nature’s playground

Located close to Der Dutchman and Finnigan’s Run dog park, the park’s name highlights the property’s multiple oxbow river features — U-shaped bends slowly detaching from the main flow.

(Story continues below photos. Left shows the before of the property while the right image shows the after. Provided by David Ike Photography)

The restoration will support a variety of wildlife, Glover noted everything from migratory birds to insects will benefit.

“For instance, waterfowl will benefit from these habitats as diverse water levels and vegetation create ideal foraging and nesting grounds,” she said.

Glover added amphibians will gain breeding sites, dragonflies will benefit from the breeding grounds and butterflies will thrive thanks to the prairie/wetland seed mix planted across the site.

“This is just a small list of some broad species groups that will benefit from the restoration – we are excited to monitor it over time and see what specific species will utilize the site,” she said.

“The project is currently not accessible to the public as restoration and development are ongoing,” Glover said. “However, future development will include the construction of trails connecting to the B&O Trail, providing public access to the property.”

Glover added while they are in the early stages the future holds many opportunities for the residents to help support the wetland, similar to their other parks and natural areas.

“The community will be able to help with invasive removal, trail maintenance or even trash cleanup,” Glover said. “We will continue to inform the public throughout the development process.”

(More photos from the Oxbow Woods restoration project. Credit:  RCPD, Biohabitats and West Creek Conservancy)