TOLEDO, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced it's dedicating the Blue Creek Limestone Glade in Metroparks Toledo as the state's 145th nature preserve. 

“State nature preserves offer Ohioans a chance to connect with the extraordinary beauty our state has to offer,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “Protecting and preserving these areas is an investment in Ohio’s public lands not only for Ohioans today but for future generations as well.”

The 11-acre preserve features an Oak Openings sand barren habitat that will foster rare species, such as hairy pinweed and Canada and Plains frostweeds, which thrive in sandy landscapes, according to ODNR. The preserve also protects an oak savanna and prairie, known as a limestone glade. ODNR said it's nearly gone from the northwest Ohio region. 

“We are proud to end the year by continuing to expand the number of Ohio’s significant habitats and rare species permanently protected as new state nature preserves,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “These areas are pillars for conservation, as well as beautiful places for the people of Ohio to enjoy.”

Other plants calling the Blue Creek Limestone Glade State Nature Preserve home include Philadelphia panicgrass, rock sandwort, slender showy goldenrod, and southern hairy rock cress.

The land is owned and taken care of by Metroparks Toledo, which is a regional conservation agency that has more than 200 miles of trail and 19 parks in Lucas County, according to ODNR. Metroparks Toledo also owns other preserves, including Audubon Islands State Nature Preserve and a portion of the Campbell State Nature Preserve.