About the Project

Shaker Trace Nursery in Miami Whitewater Forest is one of few places in our region that grows native plants for ecological restoration projects. Needed improvements to the facility will increase seed production capacity and expand the role the nursery fulfills in educating the community about native plants, ecology, and restoration.

Impact & Benefits

Current anticipated improvements include:

• A new, modern greenhouse to expand plant propagation capacity.
• A seed processing facility to support seed processing and storage.
• Repurposing of the historic drying barn to accommodate operational, educational and special event functions.
• Holistic site improvements to provide outdoor amenities and improve operational functions while balancing development with natural areas and floodplain function.
• Upgrades to site utility infrastructure, including electric, water and sewage, that are sustainably designed and offer opportunities for public education.

Your Feedback

An initial online public survey closed on October 7, 2022. Please check back for more opportunities to provide your feedback on this project.

Tentative Timeline

Note: Project schedule may be impacted by feedback received from the public and stakeholders; changes to funding; or supply chain issues. All updates to the timeline will be communicated in the table above.

Costs & Funding

The project is partially funded by a levy passed by Hamilton County residents in 2021. It is one of $101 million in critical infrastructure needs and $124 million in park improvement projects identified through a public master plan process. Levy funds will be leveraged with supplementary support from federal, state and local grant funding sources.

A special thanks to The Sutphin Family Foundation for their support of this project.