The eighth annual Heroes of Conservation awards were presented on Sunday, November 12 at the Munson Township Hall. Since 2015, Protect Geauga Parks has held an annual awards event to honor citizens of Geauga County who have made extraordinary contributions to the preservation and protection of natural lands and resources.

The 2023 award recipients are Tami Gingrich, retired naturalist of the Geauga Park District, Mary and Todd Ray of Munson Township who both have worked tirelessly to preserve land throughout Geauga County and Jacqueline Samuel who has supported a variety of Parks programs including Observatory Park and has built the first, and so far the only, “net-zero” home in Geauga County.

This event provides Geauga County with the opportunity to recognize those among us who have given so much over many years so that we and future generations will have the many benefits of a public park system that protects natural areas, wildlife and water resources while also providing the community with tremendous educational and recreational opportunities.