Columbus and Franklin County voters have a long history of supporting our incredible MetroParks system at the ballot box. Now voters in Delaware County have a similar opportunity. On November 7, Delaware County voters can show their support for a strong park system.
Our friends in the Delaware County Bird Club support the park levy and urge you to do the same. Here’s an article by Amy Tovar on behalf of The Friends of Preservation Parks.
For the past two years Preservation Parks of Delaware County has offered The Delaware County Bird Club use of Deer Haven Nature Center for our meetings. They provide facilities and staff at no charge to us. Since moving to this new location our attendance has been consistently up, bringing our programs to many new members of the birding community.
How will Preservation Parks use the money from the levy?
- Open new parks in Delaware & Orange Townships
- Expand multi-use trails including the Ohio to Erie Trail
- Expand existing parks and preserve new parkland for public enjoyment, and for wildlife habitat and watershed protection
- Expand and enrich educational programming and outreach
How much will the levy cost?
The ballot measure is a 0.6-mil renewal plus 0.3-mil additional levy. Preservation Parks is funded primarily through a tax levy that is approved by Delaware County voters. That levy provides approximately $3.57 million a year, with additional funding coming from a combination of grants and state funding, along with a small amount from donations, program fees and shelter rentals. The current levy was approved by voters in November, 2008; it will expire at the end of 2018. Collections on the new levy, if approved, will start in 2019. The current 0.6-mil levy costs a property owner about $19 per year, per $100,000 valuation of his or her home. The new levy (renewal plus the additional) will cost a homeowner $28.86 each year, per $100,000 in home valuation, and will provide an additional $2.1 million to the park district annually. That’s 8 cents per day.
What’s the Story
We will purchase additional parkland and develop new parks. We own property along Bale Kenyon Road in Orange Township and along Pollock Road near Delaware. Passage of the levy will provide the funding needed to develop these areas into new parks with trails, shelters, picnic areas and many other amenities for you to enjoy. Additionally, funding will allow us to seek out other natural areas of the county for protection.
We will add and expand multiuse trails. We’re committed to completing the Delaware County segments of the Ohio to Erie Trail as well as the Alum Creek Greenway, plus several much-needed east-to-west trails.
We will expand and add amenities to existing parks. Possibilities exist to acquire acreage adjacent to several Preservation Parks. New features at existing parks would include such amenities as additional hiking trails and a picnic shelter at Shale Hollow Park.
We will maintain and operate our nine existing parks plus segments of the Ohio to Erie Trail.
We will expand educational programming and outreach with schools, families, young adults and seniors.
Questions?
For more information visit the information pages on the Preservation Parks Web site.