The 0.9 mill renewal levy (Issue 4) on the ballot May 6, 2014 will fund park operations for another 10 years with no increase in taxes. 24 full-time park professionals and up to 50 seasonal (primarily summer) staff provide the day-to day care and management of 49 parks that encompass close to 1,000 acres of open space in Centerville and Washington Township.

What the Levy Provides

• Operating funds totaling about $1.4 million per year
• Around 30% of day-to-day operational costs for 49 parks; remaining comes from 2.0 mill levy that expires in 2018, along with some program income, donations and grants
• Upkeep of athletic facilities, trails, shelters, playgrounds, skatepark, sprayground, dog park and support amenities

What New Park Improvements Would be Possible?

• Develop the Smith Farm master plan at Bill Yeck Park
• Complete final phase at Robert F Mays Park
• Replace portable toilets with permanent restrooms at Forest Field Park and Oak Grove Park
• Expand parking at the Grant Nature Nook
• Expand skatepark and shade structures at Oak Creek South Park
• Update neighborhood parks, 20 years after last improvements
• Acquire parks in new plat development or add acreage to existing parks
• Expand multi-use trail connections throughout the parks and community

Levy stories are for information and are not intended to support or promote the levy. For additional information about the levy, visit the levy committee website www.yesforparksCW.com

Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County and the Wright State University School of Professional Psychology have worked together to create a short, 10-question survey to gauge community interest around tobacco-free parks and recreation centers. Many communities across the nation have chosen to have their parks become tobacco- free for the following reasons:

• Parks and recreation facilities are established to promote healthy activities, community wellness; and tobacco- free policies complement this goal.
• Tobacco-free policies help to change community norms so that tobacco use is not an acceptable behavior for young people or adults.
• The new Surgeon General’s report emphasized that secondhand smoke is a human carcinogen for which there is no safe level of exposure.

This survey is for Montgomery County residents only. The direct link to the survey is http://survey.phdmc.org/index.php?sid=79945&lang=en

The survey will be open until April 21, 2014.

Monday, March 31, Centerville-Washington Park District's Development Manager Bob Feldmann, appeared on "Centerville Reports Today." Watch now for an overview of the Park District's past ten years, and a preview of the next ten!

Future projects discussed include the Smith property at Bill Yeck Park, the new Robert F. Mays Park development and the upcoming Holes Creek Park trail.

Robert F. Mays Park construction is scheduled to start in the next couple of weeks. Jess Construction, Inc. was awarded the contract for the construction project that includes earth moving, drainage, seeding, planting of grasses/trees, and construction of the parking lot. Jess will be working for the rest of this year on the project with most of the heavy earth moving, drainage and construction taking place over the next six months. The planting and seeding operations are scheduled to take place in September and October of this year. It is our understanding from Washington Township that the construction of Paragon Road extension to the new park entrance and the Wallingsford turn-around is scheduled to start next week, weather permitting.

Future phases of the park development include construction of the shelter with restrooms (in 2015 thanks to a NatureWorks grant received), with playground, fitness stations, and walking trails completed once future funding is secured. View the final approved plan. (The Wallingsford circle is planned, but not shown on this map.)

If you have any questions during the construction project, please call the park headquarters at 937-433-5155.

Watch for future updates here!

The Montgomery County Solid Waste Division has awarded the Centerville-Washington Park District a 2014 Buy Recycled Grant. The Park District received $32,904, which will be used to build a wetland boardwalk and observation deck at Oak Creek South Park, 790 W. Miamisburg-Centerville Road. Materials used to construct the boardwalk and deck will be made of recycled content. Construction will be completed by Park District staff and will take place in fall 2014.

The boardwalk will provide a stable surface for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers, allowing people to safely walk out over the wetland area to better view plants and wildlife. This project will also provide new opportunities for environmental education and nature programs at Oak Creek South Park.

The Park District is committed to environmental responsibility and recently received the Montgomery County Dayton Regional Green 3’s Green Business Certification, a voluntary program designed to help businesses take basic green measures to reduce their ecological footprint, reduce their energy and resource use and save money in the process.

The Park District is now accepting applications for part-time seasonal employment. Opportunities are available in the program and operations departments.

Summer program staff can work at Hidden Meadows Day Camp or at the Summer Recreation Program. All program staff must be enthusiastic about working with children, enjoy the outdoors, and be willing to make a nine-week commitment beginning the first week of June. Positions for applicants under age 18 are limited. Adult applicants must pass a background screening.

Seasonal operations staff assist with the day-to-day management of the Park District’s 49 parks. Work includes mowing, trimming, painting, athletic field preparation, nature trail improvement, park clean up, vehicle/equipment maintenance and administrative building maintenance. Hours may include some weekends and evenings. Second shift openings are also available. Operations staff must be 18 or older, insurable to drive Park District vehicles and pass a background screening.

>>Learn more and obtain an application.

We are proud to announce that we recently received two Awards of Excellence from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA)! The awards were presented at the OPRA annual banquet held February 4, 2014 in Sandusky, Ohio in conjunction with the 2014 OPRA Annual Conference and Trade Show.

The Oak Grove Park archery range was awarded first place in the sports programs category. In fall 2012, Park District staff built an archery range in a natural setting at Oak Grove Park. Funding for the construction cost was made possible through the Federal Wildlife Restoration Grant. WRF come from federal excise tax consumers pay when purchasing firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. Funds are administered on a state level by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

The native seed nursery, located at Bill Yeck Park, was awarded third place in the natural resources and conservation category. The seed nursery was established in spring 2012 in order to have a steady supply of native seeds to utilize throughout the parks. The seeds are harvested by staff and volunteers. They are then planted in other locations, establishing prairie gardens with beautiful blooms. The seed nursery allows the Park District to reduce emissions through mowing, improve park aesthetics, reduce chemical applications and provide suitable wildlife habitats.

The OPRA Awards of Excellence are judged on: project purpose, goals and objectives, evaluation, community engagement and use of external resources, challenges and creative solutions, and the overall impact of the project. Leaders from park districts statewide judge the contest. Ohio park districts submit their best projects from the previous year for consideration.

The Centerville-Washington Park District has received the Montgomery County Dayton Regional Green 3’s Green Business Certification, a voluntary program designed to help businesses take basic green measures to reduce their ecological footprint, reduce their energy and resource use and save money in the process. In addition, the Park District showed exemplary water stewardship and qualified for the Water Stewardship Blue Certification.

A wide range of criteria was met to gain the certifications, including meeting standards in waste reduction, recycling, environmentally preferable purchasing, water and energy conservation, and pollution prevention.

“Being green is not just something we do at the Park District; it is something we teach others to do. We feel it is important to be role models in our community as we all work toward a sustainable future,” said Katy Malcolm,  Park District Naturalist and head of the Eco-Crew, the green initiatives group made up of Park District staff.