Going Round At East Of Africa. Fiber On The Farm. Harvesting Wetlands Lilies.

Roundabout Taking Shape

The roundabout at the intersection where Hoff Road extension joins the new road from Africa Road to Polaris Parkway is beginning to take shape, as the contractor prepares the southern section of the 88-acre East of Africa property for paving.

In the photo above, Hoff Road is at the top right, with the new road entering from the right and connecting to Polaris Parkway on the far left. The road to the bottom left is a stub that will connect to development projects between Africa Road and the roundabout.

The paving of the northern section, scheduled for last week, was postponed by the paving contractor.

A photo gallery of the intersection and the surrounding area is at the bottom of this newsletter for paid subscribers.

MAD Scientists Harvest Water Lilies for a New Wetland Home

Knee-deep in the lily-filled waters of Highlands Park in Westerville, Ohio, ecologists from MAD Scientist Associates were hunching over in waders, filling orange buckets with water lily tubers. They’re not just gardening. They’re moving an ecosystem. These lilies are headed 60 miles north to help kickstart life in a newly built wetland at the Rumpke landfill near Mansfield.

The water lilies, now a key feature of Highlands Park, are more than just attractive. They have a significant impact on the health of the wetland. Floating mats of lily pads shade the water, helping to cool it for aquatic life and reduce algal blooms. Their roots anchor the sediment below, while their flowers and leaves provide food and shelter for many birds, frogs, and insects. In short, lilies improve both the function and appearance of wetlands.

That’s precisely why these native tubers are being transplanted. Thirteen years ago, MAD Scientist Associates led the restoration of Highlands Park’s wetland, turning an invasive cattail-filled marsh into a mosaic of aquatic habitats. What was once a stormwater basin has become a biodiverse area, marked by seasonal changes, with trails and boardwalks inviting the public to witness nature’s recovery. Water lilies quickly became dominant, an indicator of ecological success.

Now, Highlands is giving back. The harvested tubers will be replanted at the Mansfield Rumpke wetland, an 11.5-acre site at the Noble Road Landfill. The wetland is a significant restoration effort that integrates forested and emergent zones to support birds, amphibians, and native pollinators. The goal is to create a functioning wetland system that filters water, supports wildlife, and contributes to the broader environmental health of the region.

By reusing thriving native plants, MAD Scientist Associates aims to ensure that the new wetland not only survives but also thrives. The tubers symbolize more than just plant material; they embody resilience, beauty, and ecological function—demonstrating that with proper effort, even a landfill can become a habitat for life again.

A photo gallery of the tuber harvest is at the bottom of this newsletter for paid subscribers.

Connecting WeConnect

Duane Yarnell removes some of the farm equipment stores on the fields of the family farm as contractors begin work to lay new underground conduit to connect East of Africa to WeConnect, a city-owned, municipal data center and high-speed fiber optic network. The network provides infrastructure and services for businesses, including data hosting, colocation, cloud services, and advanced fiber internet.

A new conduit is required as the original conduit, laid when the Africa Road was upgraded and repaved, was damaged during the road project.

The new conduit will run from County Line Road to the vault box located next to Yarnell, then proceed to the utility pole across the street.

The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.

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