Through an extraordinary step in leadership and vision, CWW and the City of Columbus decided to purchase the 1,600-acre property in 1992 after a joint study showed the area would be a good site for an inert landfill (a disposal site for lawn waste such as leaves, grass, and sticks) and for the application of biosolids from CWW’s wastewater treatment process. Old mining pits in the center of the property are used for the inert landfills. Long-term plans include converting those areas into hardwood wetlands once they near capacity of inert disposal. CWW uses approximately 300 acres near the river on the western side of the property for growing millet and wheat as part of its biosolids program. Recognizing the potential for a use that would benefit the community in broader terms, the jewel of the property was constructed on the eastern side - the Environmental Learning Center. It is here that the true vision of Oxbow Meadows comes to life. The nature discovery center lets visitors see native flora and fauna firsthand, and learn about the natural and cultural history of the region. | 
