WESTON — Repairs and improvements from grants, capital budget funding and village investment are
returning the reservoir for recreation.
The capital bill state construction budget awards were announced Dec. 15 and included a requested $30,000
in funding for the reservoir repairs and improvements.
As reported in the village funding application, village administration is now anticipating “decades of
additional life as a source of recreational use for all ages by means of fishing, walking, and
sledding.”
Until preliminary repairs were made in the spring, the reservoir had been closed as a park several times
in the preceding years, with snow fencing blocking access.
The Weston Reservoir sits next to the Weston Fire Station on Taylor Street. It was established as a part
of the federal government Works Progress Administration Program in 1937 and became the village primary
water source in 1940. The village shifted to Bowling Green water in the 1990s and the adjacent Water and
Sewer Plant was demolished and the reservoir was turned into a recreation area.
Reservoir rehab took several major leaps forward in 2020.
The $30,000 in capital budget funding will be on top of $5,000 in local funding from the village. Minimal
mandatory safety related repairs were made and the reservoir was able to reopen May 22.
Initial repairs were approved at the April 20 village council meeting. $1,500 in repairs to the east
embankment were made by adding additional stone.
Local resident Gary Betz came to the council meeting and offered to use his excavator and work to fix the
reservoir, if the Village paid for the stone. By May 18 completion of the repair project was confirmed
and council voted to reopen the reservoir for recreational purposes.
2020 also saw two grants for fish stock to go into the reservoir.
The reservoir has been stocked with fish for many years, but this year the village received $500 from
Henry-Wood Sportsman Alliance to stock the reservoir with 250 Hybrid-Stripped Bass from Schooner Farms,
which is located outside the village on the corner of Otsego Pike and State Route 6. The Alliance also
donated 125 pounds of rainbow trout as a second grant.
“People are happy they are able to fish again,” Stephanie Monts, village clerk, said.
The capital budget funds will be used to regrade the eroded east bank, making it closer to the water
level. Additional rock will be added to prevent further erosion. A new fishing dock will also be added,
to replace a deteriorating pier. Benches and a safe pathway will be added, leading up the side of the
hill.
As part of the new funding the hopes to involve the Ohio Department of Natural Resources with fishing and
water programs at the reservoir.
Weston will also receive capital budget funds totalling $30,000 for a new splash pad and $30,000 for the
development of historical sites as part of the History of Weston Historical Offerings.
