Anderson Township residents can now explore the township's network of protected natural areas through a new interactive digital map the township promoted in an announcement Monday, Aug. 10.
The Greenspace StoryMap, built on the ArcGIS platform, lets users browse parks, trails, wetlands and wooded hillsides across 72 parcels totaling nearly 780 acres. The tool includes the history of the township's greenspace program, photos and information about environmental benefits such as flood protection and wildlife habitat. It is free to use.
Anderson Township also is recruiting volunteers through its Adopt-a-Greenspace Program, which asks residents to help maintain and improve shared natural spaces. The StoryMap itself serves as the entry point for learning about volunteer opportunities.
Steve Sievers, assistant township administrator for operations, authored the announcement. The township described the StoryMap as a way for residents to find outdoor activities and learn how they can contribute to greenspace preservation.
Ohio's first greenspace community
Anderson Township became Ohio's first greenspace community in November 1990, when voters passed a levy to support land acquisition under state House Bill 717, legislation the township helped write. Voters renewed the levy in 1995, though it was allowed to expire in 2000 as affordable properties became harder to find.
Acquisitions have continued. The township has added 184 acres since 2016 alone, according to its 2026 community guide. In total, Anderson Township maintains more than 2,800 acres of parks, trails, greenspace and publicly accessible land, representing about 60 acres per 1,000 residents.
The protected parcels include wooded hillsides and vistas overlooking the Ohio and Little Miami rivers, serving the township's roughly 44,000 residents.
How to get involved
Residents interested in greenspace volunteer opportunities can contact Todd Chadwell, the Greenspace Advisory Committee contact, at (513) 688-8400, ext. 1190, or [email protected]. Sievers can be reached at (513) 688-8604 or [email protected].
