Valley View Foundation

Results: 20 years ago, the proposal of large scale development was the catalyst for a group of citizens to unite around their shared vision to permanently preserve a family farm for future generations. On April 19th, 2002 Valley View was officially incorporated and the work began in earnest. It took multiple real estate transactions, but against strong political, legal and financial headwinds, Valley View persevered. We raised private grants and donations that we then leveraged threefold to win competitive state grants. Having raised $4 million, today we own about 8% of the land in the City of Milford. We serve as stewards of this land, caretakers of its natural and cultural assets and future possibilities. Valley View sits near the confluence of the Little Miami and East Fork Rivers in Historic Milford. Archeologists explain that this location was a prehistoric highway interchange where these two major rivers met just upstream of the Ohio River. Artifacts from all tribes that inhabited southwest Ohio over the past 10,000 years have been found on our land. In 1803, surveyors sent by Thomas Jefferson documented a large bird-shaped Hopewell mound structure known as the Milford Works, akin to Serpent Mound. Based on their rudimentary surveys, part of the mound almost certainly existed on our land before pioneers arrived. Our stone farmhouse was built around 1810 by the first judge in Clermont County who was, at that time, the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. It is one of the oldest homes in southwest Ohio that was owned by the Gatch family for 165 years before Valley View became just the third owner in 2015. In addition to the vibrant cultural history, our land includes examples of every ecosystem of southwest Ohio including nearly a mile along the East Fork River, wetlands and streamside forest, prairie and steep wooded hillsides. Miles of mowed trails allow thousands of visitors to see and explore these natural environments. The ecologic value of our land was validated when the State of Ohio provided several million dollars through competitive Clean Ohio and Ohio EPA grants to purchase and permanently preserve this land as greenspace. Valley View volunteers have developed various outdoor activities for the community including a 2-acre produce garden, miles of hiking trails, designated areas for scout programs and facilitator led experiences. We have established community service opportunities, K-12 field-based activities to support core curriculum, after school programs and community events throughout the year. We have also built great partnerships with other organizations in Greater Cincinnati that have aligned missions and the resources we lack and need not duplicate. In 20 years, we have just scratched the surface of what Valley View can become. We are nestled inside the I-275 loop less than 10 miles from more than 400,000 people. Beyond that, an even greater audience. We have much more to discover and share.

Programs: Environmental education programs the organization provides various educational opportunities to local schools and scout troops. Teachers from the elementary school adjacent to the property conducted educational activities on site.

land conservation the organization continued to accomplish a primary non-exempt purpose in 2007 when it aquired a conservation easement on 38. 869 acres located in the southeastern quadrant of garfield and gatch ave in milford. The organization also acquired 32. 947 acres of land from the city of milford in the second clean ohio acquistion. The organization maintains approximately 130 acres in permanent conservation. In 2013, the organization secured grants and contracts to purchase and conserve an additional 24 /- acres of land. In 2014, the organization entered a contract and secured grants to acquire an additional 39 acres of land which occured in february 2015.

historic preservation conservation two historic barns constructed in the 19th century were acquired by the organization, as part of land acquisition, in 2005. These barns have been stabilized and volunteers cleared brush and debris from within and around the barns. Restoration efforts are ongoing to preserve the architecural and agricultural history of an area that is now under going substantial development. In addition, the organization hired a phd archeologist to begin a study and develop a cultural resource management plan regarding paleo-indian history upon the land. The 60 page rpt concludes the property has a rich history spanning 10,000 to 12,000 years. In 2014, the organization entered a contract and secured a grant to acquire a farmhouse built in the early 1800s and an early 20th century barn.