YOUNGSTOWN The Youngstown City Council is set to consider a resolution next week that supports the restoration and preservation of the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve, a 73-acre property managed by Mill Creek Metroparks.

The proposed resolution comes after the Mill Creek Metroparks Board of Commissioners voted this week to authorize the sale of the preserve. The board's executive director, Aaron Young, stated that the property no longer meets the park system’s needs and that the sale could settle a long-running disagreement with the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society over the site’s maintenance.

The McGuffey Wildlife Preserve, which includes the McGuffey Family Pond and Dock, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. The historical society donated the land and $15,000 for upkeep to the Metroparks in 1998.

The resolution claims that the pond and dock have not been properly cared for over the past 26 years. The pond has become overgrown and silted, and the dock was removed in 2023 because of safety issues. Historical Society officials, including Board of Trustees Chair Richard Scarsella, brought the matter to the city council’s attention in early October.

The resolution emphasizes the importance of the preserve to the local community, especially for residents on Youngstown’s East Side, Campbell, and Coitsville Township. The neighborhoods include low- and moderate-income families and seniors who have limited access to other nature spaces for recreation and education. According to the document, restoring the pond and dock would allow the public to use the facility for hiking, bird-watching, and educational activities.

The resolution states that the city council supports the complete restoration, maintenance, and preservation of the property. If passed, the city clerk will be instructed to send a copy of the resolution to the Mill Creek Metroparks Board of Commissioners.

The Metroparks director said the sale process is in its initial stages, and the price and potential buyer are currently unknown. Young noted that until a sale is finalized and recorded, the preserve remains open to the public.