Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Angel Food Ministries helps stretch grocery dollars
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 13-47
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Portage County voters to decide on funds needed to maintain parks, trails and other natural areas
By Bob Downing
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008
The Portage Park District is asking voters to pass a 0.5-mill levy for operations in the November election.
The park district's five commissioners on Thursday approved the levy request that would raise nearly $1.7 million a year for 10 years.
The money would be used to operate and maintain parks and trails and to conserve forests, wetlands and other natural areas to improve water quality and wildlife habitat.
If approved by voters, the levy would be the first for the countywide park district. Levy requests were rejected in 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2001.
The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $18 a year.
''This is a tremendous opportunity for Portage County residents,'' said Gary Cross, president of the park board. ''For a few pennies a day, we can conserve important natural areas and operate safe, clean parks close to home for free public use.''
The levy would provide the local dollars needed to match federal grants, said Christine Craycroft, the park district's executive director.
The district operates on an annual budget of about $175,000, with most of the money coming from the Portage County commissioners and the state.
That is barely enough to cover maintenance on existing park properties, Craycroft said.
A grass-roots group, Citizens for Portage Park District, is supporting the levy request.
''There is a great need for this small levy, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 house less than $1.50 per month — less than a half-gallon of gas,'' said Chairman Dick Abbott of Franklin Township.
The grass-roots group is seeking volunteers to build awareness of the park district and the proposed levy.
The group will hold a potluck volunteer orientation at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at Camp Spelman in Franklin Township. For information, go to http://www.citizensforportageparks.org.
The park district operates Towner's Woods in Franklin Township, Dix Park in Ravenna Township, the Headwaters Trail between Mantua and Garrettsville, the Portage Hike and Bike Trail between Kent and Ravenna and Seneca Ponds Park in Streetsboro.
It has five other properties not yet open to the public because of lack of funds.
For information, contact the park district at 330-297-7728 or http://www.portageparkdistrict.org.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.
The Portage Park District is asking voters to pass a 0.5-mill levy for operations in the November election.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
