The Bellefontaine Parks Levy Committee held a small town hall-style meeting on Wednesday evening. Parks Superintendent Kris Myers led the meeting and answered questions about the plan to revitalize and refresh the parks.
In 2023, 500 people from the community were surveyed and a plan was made to revamp the park system, however, the funding wasn’t available. It just wasn’t in the city budget. Currently, the parks receive $600,000/year in budget monies from the city. While they currently operate within that budget that amount doesn’t allow for anything short of just maintenance and minimal upkeep. Many of the parks are falling apart within the city, and there just isn’t public funding to correct them. Seeing the need, the Parks Levy Committee was formed and over a year, the Master Plan was created. View their full plan HERE.
When asked about the levy, Myers informed the group that this is an “earned income” levy. Simply put, this means that if you do not work, you will not pay this tax. If you are a retired teacher, city worker, or are on Social Security, this will not impact you. But you are still able to vote for or against the levy.
Ballot wording for this levy states, “Shall the ordinance providing for a 0.267 percent levy increase on income, for parks and recreation operations and capital expenditures of the Bellefontaine Parks and Recreations Department be passed?”
Myers went on to talk about the city pool. It is 55 years old, and while it has served the community well, it is no longer efficient and almost unrepairable. The liner was replaced several years ago, and it is past its prime. Repairs are more and more costly due to the age of parts and pumps for outdated equipment. Possibly, without the levy, the current facility would only last one or two more years and then be forced to close. Myers said that he feels that would be a travesty for the community as the Learn to Swim Program is an invaluable asset.
Accountability is something that much of the community has asked about. The Parks report to their 7 member board, the Bellefontaine City Council, the Logan County and City Auditors, the public, and the state. They feel that transparency is of the utmost importance.
If this levy should fail, Myers says they will go on as they have in the past and just make do with what they have, doing their best to gain grants to support projects.
Every person who resides in the City of Bellefontaine lives within a five-minute walk of one of the parks. This is a statistic Myers is proud of and takes pride that the city can provide this to its residents.
Justin Dinovo, Committee Co-Chair talks about how he is taking a different perspective this time around for the levy:
In October I spoke with the committee and this interview is still relevant today:
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Bellefontaine City Parks consists of over 150 acres in the city. Vibrant parks equal a vibrant community. To see more about the levy click HERE.
