Portage Parks remain a good investment for citizens | Along The Way
Would you like to protect Portage County’s rural heritage? Our county is located between Akron, Cleveland, Warren, Youngstown and Canton. City life has its advantages, but so does the country life and that is why people keeping moving here.
One good way to protect what we have is to support the Portage Park District's one-mill levy on the Nov. 7 ballot. The levy will replace the current 10-year, half-mill levy that expires at the end of this year. It was approved by the voters in 2014.
The levy that is expiring is Portage County’s first and only park levy. It enabled the Portage Park District, founded in 1991, to grow from a hand-to-mouth operation, dependent on charity, into a true park district that, partnering with foundations and state and federal sources, has brought in more than $7 million in grants for a 60 percent return on what voters approved in 2014. We now have a true park district like those in our neighboring counties.
During the last 10 years, with money generated by the levy, the Portage Park District opened Trail Lake Park in Streetsboro with its picnic areas, a fishing pier and kayak launch, restrooms, and a 1.6-mile paved, accessible multipurpose trail. The Portage Park District was able to pave The Portage Hike and Bike Trail with 3.6 miles of asphalt. It resurfaced the 8-mile Headwaters Trail, between Garrettsville and Mennonite Road west of Mantua, with limestone, and installed restrooms,and a new parking area.
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The district recently added 215 acres in Brimfield to the Cooperrider Kent Bog State Nature Preserve and it will eventually have designated trails. It has also acquired Bird Family Bog Park, 171 acres in Rootstown. It opened the 540-acre Morgan Park in Shalersville with a 1-mile accessible hiking trail, a butterfly garden with a pergola and benches, and restrooms.
Shaw Woods, the 145 acres in Ravenna Township donated by the Shaw family, has hiking and equestrian trails, restrooms and a primitive campsite serving the nearby Buckeye Trail. Dix Park, also in Ravenna Township, has gained a picnic shelter, Story Walk Trail with posted, educational illustrations in collaboration with Reed Memorial Library that young and old can enjoy, and has hiking trails.
The district has also developed the Red Fox Cuyahoga River Access in Shalersville Township for paddling and fishing on the Upper Cuyahoga State Scenic River.
Free programs for all ages and abilities are being offered by the Portage Park District that teach aspects of nature. I remember joining a group led by Jen White, education and outreach manager in Towners Woods in the dead of winter and learning about Pileated Woodpeckers. White also led a bunch of us from Rotary in planting milkweeds at Towners Woods to feed the beautiful Monarch butterflies, an endangered species, that migrate annually from Canada to Mexico and back.
With voter support in the November election, the Portage Park District plans to develop Eagle Creek Greenway Park in Hiram, Breakneck Creek Park in Ravenna Township, Walter Park in Palmyra, Franklin Bog Park in Franklin Township, Chagrin Headwaters Park in Mantua, Tinkers Creek Greenway in Streetsboro and extend the beautiful Headwaters Trail.
Our municipal parks mostly function as playgrounds and picnic areas, which is fine. Our county park system has the mission of conserving our natural heritage and providing opportunities for its appreciation and enjoyment. During the COVID epidemic, when social gatherings were not safe, many of us turned to our Portage Parks and with no admission charged, got out of doors to walk, bicycle or, in winter, cross country ski. The experience collectively validated the Portage Park District and what is offers.
The district cites the cost of one mill at $35 per year per $100,000 of property value. For a $200,000 home, that amounts to $70 per year. A single ticket to attend a professional football, basketball, or baseball game can cost that much. You can take your entire family out to one of the Portage Park District’s parks and admission is free. The parks are clean and well maintained by the district’s staff.
I plan to support the Portage Park District when I vote in November and hope you will too!
David E. Dix is a retired publisher of the Record-Courier.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Portage Park District levy worthy of your support. Here's why
