They talked to Victor and Mary Jane Smith about preserving their historic 1800s home and farm as an addition to the park. After 17 years of negotiations, planning and setting aside money in a land acquisition fund, the purchase is now complete, making Bill Yeck Park the district’s largest nature park at 194 acres.
“In the next several months, the district will revisit the master plan developed by the park commissioners in 1992 and begin a development plan to incorporate the new area into the existing park,” said Kim Birdseye, park board president. “The main focus for this new area is the same as the rest of Bill Yeck Park — nature, history and education.”
The new 37-acre parcel, identified as the Central Core in the master plan, is the keystone of the park complex. It is almost completely surrounded by parkland and lies in the center of the “big loop” formed by the Sugar Creek valley. It will provide the main public access to the most spectacular areas of the Park. Forest Field Park is just west of the Smith parcel. In their publication, A Sense of Place, the Centerville-Washington Township Historical Society described the early history of the house, known as The William Reeder House, dating back to 1804.
“Although Bill Yeck, Victor Smith and Mary Jane Smith are no longer with us, their vision and determination has resulted in an important piece of property being preserved for residents to enjoy nature and history forever,” said Carol Kennard, park district director. “The park district is working closely with the Smith and Yeck families to ensure the new park area preserves the ideas envisioned by them.”