The park district purchased the Smith property for $1,206,000 in September 2009. The acquisition made Bill Yeck Park the Centerville-Washington Park District’s largest park at 194 acres.
Grant Park is the district’s second-largest park at 188 acres, and its largest community park is Oak Grove Park at 102 acres. The district has 45 parks.
“We had an agreement with the Smith family for the purchase rights after the passing of Victor and Mary Jane Smith,” said Martha Lanese, park district office manager. “We had been saving money for many, many years.”
Lanese said the Smith family had lived on the property for about 50 years. The main house was built in 1820, and had subsequent additions built.
Those who attend the event can tour the Smith House and see the plans for the acquired land. Plans include butterfly gardens, a planting area, a small pond with a waterfall and, eventually, a nature center.
Public forums were held to gather ideas for the park from area residents.
“We always try to gather input from the community, since it is going to be such a large project,” Lanese said.
“We don’t know a construction timeline. We have to determine what sort of funding we need. It probably will be a phased project.”
Bill Yeck helped establish the Centerville Washington Park District in 1959 and served as park commissioner from 1959 to 1994.
The park used to be called Sugar Valley Park, and was renamed Bill Yeck Park in 1996.
Those who attend Sunday’s event are invited to bring a blanket and a picnic lunch.
Light desserts and drinks will be provided, and the Centerville Community Band will play.
An official dedication ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m.
Also on Sunday, Centerville Station Road will be closed from the county line east to Forest Field Park due to an unrelated construction project.
It is recommended those attending the celebration take Clyo Road to Centerville Station and head east to the Smith entrance.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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