Brewery District in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
An Ecological Restoration Story
Teaming Up to Support Biodiversity
In 2024, Grange Insurance Audubon Center partnered with the Society for Ecological Restoration at Ohio State University and The Wellington School to improve biodiversity in what was once our upper wetland. In the 15 years since the center was established, many invasive species have taken residence in the area, threatening biodiversity throughout the park. A restoration plan was created to reverse this trend and improve ecological health in this public greenspace.
The Process
To begin the restoration project, the group collected baseline data on the existing plant communities followed by invasive species removal during mid-October, when plants are transporting sugars to their roots and herbicide application is most effective. Common invasive species at this site and throughout Columbus include Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), and common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum).
In early November, the group planted native species to support the ecosystem in a variety of ways. For example, northern red oak (Quercus rubra), paw paw (Asimina triloba), and fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) provide
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Why Native Plants
Native plants - those that occur naturally in a region in which they evolved - provide critical ecosystem services and support biodiversity. Without them and the insects that co-evolved with them, local birds cannot survive.
Restoring native plant habitat is vital to preserving biodiversity - each patch of habitat becomes part of a collective effort to nurture and sustain the living landscape for birds and other animals.,br>
Get Involved!
Grante Insurance Audubon Center is a conservation action center within the National Audubon Society network that facilitates nature-based education and citizen science projects in our community. Visit the center or check out grante.audubon.org to find out how you can
Society for Ecological Restoration is a global organization that supports professional employment, research, and community engagement in restoration. Check out ser.org to find your local chapter.
Erected by Grange Insurance Audubon Center, National Audubon Society; Society for Ecological Research; Youth Climate Action Fund.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 2024.
Location. 39° 56.76′ N, 83° 0.572′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in the Brewery District. It can be reached from West Whittier Street west of Maier Place, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 505 W Whittier St, Columbus OH 43215, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Scioto Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Heathers Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); A Hive's Lifecycle (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trinity Lutheran Seminary (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Gary L. Ogle Complex at Berliner Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lou Berliner (approx. 0.7 miles away); Change of Direction (approx. 0.7 miles away); 1979-1984 Indoor Facilities and New Name (approx. 0.7 miles away); "What Can We Do To Help?" (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
