It was a unanimous decision by the Mill Creek Metro Parks Board to allow Executive Director Aaron Young to sell the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve in Coitsville.

"I think the board has chosen at this time to confirm that the McGuffey no longer meets the needs of the Metro Parks," Young said.

However, one resident disagreed, at a Monday night regular meeting, saying the park is funded by tax payers and that the preserve is apart of their community.

"We have a beautiful park and I think it's wrong to be selling a beautiful gift that was given to you - McGuffey. I think it's wrong," Kathy May, resident, said.

However, Young said it was the best decision.

"I can understand there's some concern about the sale. Sale of property for metro parks is isn't something that you typically see on a monthly basis but if you review the bylaws in the Ohio revised code, there are only a few things that you can do in terms of how you divest yourself of a property and sale is one of them," Young said. "Until it's sold and recorded. we're still the owners and it's still open and available to members of the public," he said.

The preserve was given to the Metro Parks back in 1998 from the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society but this new direction should squash the controversy, according to Young.

"The issue with the pond and wetlands at McGuffey has been an ongoing battle between the Metro Parks and the historical society for several years now. this should end that battle," Young said.

Young adds, this is just the first step in a potentially lengthy process and they don't know who they're selling it to or for how much.