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Park officials taking no chances to pass levy

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MetroParks has achieved much since its last levy

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By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer Updated 9:54 PM Sunday, October 11, 2009

DAYTON — Five Rivers MetroParks Issue 4 campaign manager Tom Jonak is gearing up for Election Day at his office in the Kettering Tower downtown.

There’s a $200,000 war chest of private donations — taxpayer funds are not allowed. There are 5,000 yard signs, 50 large signs for storefronts, campaign buttons and mailbox cards.

It’s a lot of effort in the face of no organized opposition and a high degree of satisfaction with the parks.

Parks officials are taking no chances.

The 10-year replacement levy of 1.8 mill should generate a maximum of $17.9 million annually for the parks.

The current levy generates $14.8 million to fund 25 facilities and the 315 full, part-time and seasonal employees who work at them. Current levy proceeds have taken a hit with declines in property values. In all, there are 15,000 acres to manage.

Polling of 400 registered voters by campaign consultant Strategic Visioning indicates 68 percent of voters leaning toward supporting the levy. There’s a five percent margin of error, notes Diane Lawrence, a consultant with the firm.

But the percentage still shows a high degree of support for the parks that puts the agency in an elite grouping of the most popular public entities in the Dayton area, said Lawrence.

Popularity aside, the bruising economy and job losses have guided the parks agency into keeping the levy proposal modest, said Five Rivers MetroParks Executive Director Charlie Shoemaker.

“The economic challenges of the area will influence some people,” he said. “That is why we are going for a replacement levy.”

There is the specter of 1994, when MetroParks lost a levy bid by 126 votes. It went on to win passage in November of that year, Shoemaker said.

Part of that fight was educating voters about MetroParks taking on a role inside the city of Dayton at Island, Wegerzyn and Wesleyan parks, Shoemaker recalled, as well as taking on the RiverScape projects.

Looking forward, Shoemaker said, MetroParks will continue to enhance “one of the most comprehensive trail systems in the nation” that includes 250 miles of regional bike trails — 65 miles in Montgomery County. A bike hub is now under construction at RiverScape along with a covered outdoor entertainment pavilion. Talks continue with other local agencies on modifying Great Miami River dams for safety and recreation, he added.

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