Federal stimulus money will pay for about $1.86 million to restore streams and wetlands on the site of a new Franklin County Metro Park between Groveport and Canal Winchester.

The park system had been awarded $3 million in stimulus money through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, but the bid for the work came in at $2.86 million.

The stimulus money will pay for about 65 percent of that, Metro Parks Executive Director John O'Meara said.

The Columbus Regional Airport Authority will pay about $886,000, or 31 percent, O'Meara said, to offset environmental effects resulting from future improvements at Port Columbus. Those improvements could include a consolidated rental-car facility and south-runway relocation, airport spokeswoman Angie Tabor said.

Metro Parks will pay the rest of the cost.

The parks board approved the contract with John Eramo & Sons of Hilliard yesterday.

The work is to begin in February and be finished next summer, O'Meara said. The 482-acre park is scheduled to open in 2011.

-- Mark Ferenchik mferenchik@dispatch.com