News
News
Cincinnati is enhancing their recycling service by partnering with
RecycleBank - a rewards program that motivates people to take greener
actions, like household recycling, by rewarding them with points that are
redeemable online for rewards from local and national retailers,
restaurants, pharmacies, grocers and more. Similar to frequent flier
programs, the more a community recycles, the more RecycleBank Points
participating households earn. Single or multi-family residences with
Cincinnati curbside trash service are eligible to participate in the
program free of charge.
• You must register to redeem rewards. To sign up for RecycleBank: visit
www.RecycleBank.com or call 1-888-727-2978
• Households in phases 1-3 have received their new recycling carts - to
find out which phase you are in and which week you will be picked up,
check out the City’s enhanced recycling program overview at:
www.cincinnatirecycles.org or call 513-591-6000.
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Those of you who are interested in finding more information about getting children
outside will find "The Children & Nature Network" and "Outdoor Afro" useful. They
are both aimed at reaching a more diverse audience in the effort to reconnect children
with nature. To reach them go to http://outdoorafro.ning.com/ or contact audrey@legacyontheland.com.
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Upgraded Campground
The scent of trees and brush wafts in the air of the cabin.A lake sprawls for miles,
ringed by a forested shore and dotted with people fishing from boats.From this campsite,
Cincinnati Mills Mall is about three miles to the north. The Ronald Reagan Highway is a little
more than two miles south. It is in the middle of 39,755-resident Springfield Township at 2,465-acre
Winton Woods Park.This year, the Hamilton County Park District hopes to draw more local
residents to the park’s campground on the shores of Winton Lake. The district is close to completing
a $2.7 million expansion of the facility following several years of work.Most prominent among those upgrades are the eight “housekeeping” cabins that have been added,
a step up from the 10 no-frills camping cabins that were already at the park’s campground.
The one-bedroom cabins have all the creature comforts of home: heating and air conditioning, stove,
refrigerator, microwave, a television, a bathroom with shower, provided linens and other amenities
that may beg the question: Are we still camping?
“You’re not roughing it,” said Jim Rahtz, deputy director of the Hamilton County Park District.
But, he said, “It’s something we’ve had requests for. This gives (local residents) the opportunity
for a vacation away from home without a lot of time traveling or a lot of dollars on fuel.”
The cozy cabins, which comfortably sleep four adults and a number of children in a loft, will rent
for a planned $115 per night or $690 for an entire week.
Tricia Murray, a 38-year-old Greenhills wife and mother of four, is what one might call a frequent
user of the campground at Winton Woods.
She stays there, by her estimate, five to six times per year for at least four to five days.
Murray said she’ll likely try a new cabin at least once and is happy that the park she enjoys so
much could draw more attention.
Friendly staff, the setting and the fact that her children can play without fear of traffic keep her coming back, she said.
“I consider Winton Woods the best kept little secret,” she said.
The nearest comparable public camping cabins are at Hueston Woods State Park near Oxford and Cowan Lake State Park in Wilmington, Rahtz said.
Those interested in a more primitive camping experience can stay at tent-ready sites or at motorhome/trailer lots at the park.
Total sites – including the cabins, tent areas and motorhome/trailer lots – will be up to 123 from 100, with more sites having electric, water and sewer hook-ups.
The park district will begin taking reservations for the housekeeping cabins on March 16. Call 513-851-2267.
For other information on camping options in general, visit Öwww.hamiltoncountyparks.org/rec_camping/camping.htm; or call 513-521-7275
Upcoming events
- Green Umbrella Forum on Natural Lands Management & Conservation(event)(3 days)
- Green Umbrella Land Team meeting(event)(25 days)
