Read all the latest Park District news and find upcoming program information in the March-May 2015 issue of News & Events! This issue also includes information about Hidden Meadows Day Camp and Junior and Senior Adventure Camps taking place this summer.

Registration for spring programs and Adventure Camps begins February 9 at 10 a.m. for Centerville and Washington Township residents (February 16 at 10 a.m. for nonresidents). Registration for Hidden Meadows Day Camp begins on April 20 at 10 a.m. for Centerville and Washington Township residents (April 27 at 10 a.m. for nonresidents).

Download PDF version of newsletter>>
View newsletter archive>>

Preserving open space throughout the community is the foundation of the Centerville-Washington Park District’s mission. We're excited to announce that a recent land donation to the Park District by the William and Dorothy Yeck Family Foundation will allow us to continue that mission. The Yeck Family Foundation has donated 3.6 acres along Far Hills Avenue, at the northernmost entrance to the community, which will become the Park District’s 50th park.

“We’re proud to carry on the legacy of support in expanding our community’s open spaces and the Park District’s tireless efforts to improve the services they provide to our neighborhoods,” said Bob Yeck, of the Yeck Family Foundation.

The park, to be named Little Woods Park, will be developed primarily as a nature park, with an emphasis on native plantings. The plants are planned to provide color during all growing seasons—spring, summer and fall. Little Woods Park will feature a crushed limestone path running north/south. Plans call for native butterfly, herb, scent and prairie gardens along the path. The Park District’s fourth Nature Literature Trail, in partnership with the Washington-Centerville Public Library and the Yeck Family Foundation, will also be installed along the path. A small shelter and a picnic table grove are also planned.

The initial stage of park development, which is currently in process, includes the removal of invasive honeysuckle and vines along the eastern boundary of the property. The park is expected to be open for public use in early summer.

We are grateful to the William and Dorothy Yeck Family Foundation for their support of the Centerville-Washington Park District and are excited to develop our 50th park!

As we approach the cold winter months, we wanted to provide an update on Robert F. Mays Park. All drainage for the fields and parking lot has been completed. Jess Construction has performed 20,100 cy of excavation and 22,300 cy of embankment, leaving 6,500 cy of fill remaining for the site. The existing soils were mostly clay, so Com-Til was incorporated to add nutrients to the soil. Everything was re-graded to make sure the playing fields were at the proper elevation. A “dormant seed” of the Green Velvet Sports Mixture will be applied to the athletic fields over the winter months. The native plant areas and turf areas will get temporary seed as per the plans. The mounding around the exterior of the fields is very close to finish grade and many, but not all of the tress have been planted. The remaining trees will be planted over the winter months.

The parking lot has the first 4.5” of aggregate base on top of the subgrade. All curb in the parking lot has been installed. The wall ball wall footer has been poured and construction of the wall has started. We will continue to push forward with all items of work that aren’t weather sensitive and hope to have only a few remaining items from Phase 1 construction flow into next year.

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!

Centerville-Washington Park District Board of Commissioners has selected Arnold “Arnie” Biondo (pictured on right with wife, Nancy) to lead the organization as the new executive director. Biondo replaces Carol Kennard, who will retire at the end of December after serving as executive director for 17 years.

Biondo was selected from a national candidate search conducted by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association.

“We were extremely happy with the quality of candidates who put forward their names for consideration,” said David Lee, president of the park board. “During the search process it was clear to us that Arnie was an excellent person for the position because of his extensive experience in strategic planning and management of parks, along with his warm personality.”

Arnie has served in the field of parks and recreation for more than 38 years. His most recent position was as the executive director of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County in Wheaton, Illinois where he initiated and championed the first ever strategic planning effort, reaching out to school, park, conservation and city officials for input in the effort. Prior to his time at Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, he spent 18 years as executive director of Carol Stream Park District in Carol Stream, Illinois. He led the Carol Stream Park District to earn the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in 2002 and again in 2008. He is a member of the American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration (AAPRA), an organization of distinguished practitioners and scholars committed to the advancement of the park and recreation field. Membership to AAPRA is through peer nomination. Though much of Biondo’s career has been in Illinois, he is no stranger to the greater Dayton area. He served as the superintendent of recreation for the City of Kettering from 1981 to 1982.

Biondo received a bachelor’s degree in recreation and park management from University of Oregon and a master’s degree in leisure services, marketing and management from DePaul University. He is married to a Dayton native, Nancy, and has three children, Peter, Matthew and Emily.

“I couldn't be happier about joining CWPD. The parks, preserves, sport fields, facilities and programs are top notch,” said Biondo. “It's clear to me that the residents of Centerville and Washington Township place high value on their recreation and open spaces. I look forward to continuing to meet their needs.” He will officially begin his position as executive director on December 1. Arnie will be available to meet the community at the Centerville-Washington Park District’s next special event, the Sixth Annual Holiday Luminary Walk, Friday, December 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Grant Park, 501 Normandy Ridge Road.

The Centerville-Washington Park District said farewell to two valuable long-term employees last week. Bob Feldmann, Development Manager, and Barbara Smith, Business Manager, both retired after a combined total of nearly 60 years of service to the Park District.

Read more (PDF)>>

After nearly 33 years, the last 17 as Director, Carol Kennard is retiring from the Centerville-Washington Park District in December. She was hired as the first full-time program director in 1982 and immediately began introducing new programs to engage people in their local parks. Hidden Meadows Day Camp, Winter Woods Day Camp, after school children’s nature programs, Haunted Trail and the Volunteer Naturalist Program are just a few of the successful programs she began.

Read more (PDF)>>

Owlexander’s Tree Trek, the newest Nature Literature Trail, officially opened Saturday, June 14, 2014. There are more than 100 tree species in Ohio and the Tree Trek features 14 of these species, including the tree’s family name, leaf shape, bark appearance, commercial use, and, in some cases, interesting folklore. The Tree Trek is a one mile path that runs through the woods at Bill Yeck Park. 

Owlexander’s Tree Trek is the third trail in a creative collaboration between the Washington-Centerville Public Library and the Centerville-Washington Park District. The Nature Literature Trails are funded by the Yeck Family Foundation.

With construction on Clyo Road in Centerville, the best directions are traveling from the north: travel south on Clyo Road; turn left onto Washington Creek; left on Sugarcreek; right on Mill Trace; left on Rooks Mill - park entrance will be immediately on the right. If you are traveling from the south: travel north on Clyo Road; turn right on Rooks Mill; cross over Spring Valley and continue on Rooks Mill and the park entrance will be 1/4 mile down on the right.

Centerville and Washington Township voters renewed the 0.9 mill levy that was on the ballot May 6, 2014. The levy will fund park operations for another 10 years with no increase in taxes. It provides:

• Operating funds totaling about $1.4 million per year
• Around 30% of day-to-day operational costs for 49 parks encompassing close to 1,000 acres of open space in Centerville and Washington Township. (Remaining funding 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
• Requested park improvements

Thank you for supporting your parks!