Ross County Parks District to annex two parks

The Ross County Parks District is set to assume control over Camp Sherman Park and Ross County Park, Parks District Director Joel Letsche said in a commissioner's meeting Monday. 

The two parks were donated by the Federal Land to Parks Program in 1978 to the Ross County Commissioners, said Letsche. 

In 2019, the Parks secured a 10-year levy on a second attempt, granting a 0.5-mill levy that generates nearly $700,000 for the park district annually.

With the levy funding, the parks are now able to adequately maintain the two parks, the Parks Director said. 

"The parks have a levy now, and parks are our specialty, so it just makes sense that we would own them." 

However, the program must also prove to the federal lands to parks program that they are capable of taking care of the parks in the long term, said Letsche. 

The Parks District has wanted to make the acquisition happen since 2019, but COVID slowed the process down significantly. 

"Most of the delay has been because COVID shut down the federal government's warehouse for their records, they couldn't get into them for months," said Letsche. 

The transfer will be supported by a resolution from the Ross County Commissioners stating they support the transfer. 

Program Manager Erin Stanley of the Ross County Parks District noted that the parks were also obligated to hold two public meetings to afford the community the opportunity to express their opinion regarding the transfer of the property, as well as plans to modify some acreage of the Ross County Park to include a hiking trail and possibly a frisbee golf course. 

Letsche said they would also light up a flag pole at Ross County Park at night.

President of the Ross County Commissioners Doug Corcoran stated that they would schedule a public meeting on the subject, but said that they did not expect much push back on the issue. 

"I think the Ross County Parks District has a good reputation of taking care of the property they manage," said Corcoran. "I don't see much of a problem with that." 

The meetings could be online or in person, said Stanley. 

Letsche said he didn't have a definite timeline on when the transfer would be completed. 

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at Jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jayreutter1. 

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