Bill Schroeder
LEBANON — When Bill Schroeder first took a seat on the Warren County Park Board in 1993, the board oversaw only two parks, totalling less than 100 acres of land.
When he steps down from the board at the end of this year, the park district will have 18 parks and 1,600 acres, a legacy appropriate of Schroeder’s dedication to preserving natural lands for public use.
“When Warren County started booming, that created a huge challenge to acquire and have parks,” Schroeder said. “The parks are necessary to preserve the quality of living in our county. Without them, we won’t have a great place to live anymore.”
Schroeder, a Landen-based attorney and ardent outdoor enthusiast, jumped at the chance to be on the board when first asked.
“At the time, I loved parks, but I don’t think I realized what a serious business it really was,” Schroeder said.
“Bill has been a real visionary,” said county commissioner Pat South. “You can stand next to him and see his mind churning when he sees a parcel of land about what kind of park it could be.”
One of Schroeder’s greatest achievements was helping to put together a deal for the county to purchase Armco Park, the former-employees’ park of AK Steel in Turtlecreek Twp. The 311-acre park brought a large pond and golf course along with other amenities that could now be enjoyed by the public.
“Armco Park was a tremendous facility that was already in place,” Schroeder remembered. “We felt it had to be preserved.”
Schroeder and the board also worked to earn grants from the Clean Ohio Act, receiving two in the first year of the grant’s inception. The grants allowed them to create Hisey Park and the Twin Creek Park and Preserve. Schroeder also oversaw conservation of areas along the Little Miami River, creating public access to the rivers for both hikers and boaters.
“His legacy is taking land and cultivating the land into dynamic playgrounds that fits Warren County’s aesthetic and rural ambiance and mixing it with the modern amenities residents want,” South said.
Despite the successes, Schroeder firmly believes that for the county to sustain the parks, a levy will be required in the near future.
“We’ve estimated it will take $11 million to $20 million over the next 20 years to build out and maintain our park lands,” Schroeder said. “We have great volunteers and donations, but they can’t sustain the parks forever.”
Schroeder said the decision to step away from the board comes from a belief that the board needs “an infusion of new blood” to continue to grow and also a desire to spend more time with children and grandchildren. However, Schroeder, an avid traveler, still plans to volunteer for the board and to bring back suggestion of how other parks operate based on what he learns from his travels.
The volunteer position of park commissioner will be filled by appointment by Warren County Juvenile and Probate Judge Mike Powell. Interested parties should send a letter to Powell, 570 Justice Drive, Lebanon 45036.
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