Darke County Park District Board of Commissioners Pass Resolution
By Park District Director Roger M. Van Frank 

On March 13, 2013 the Darke County Park District Board of Commissioners passed a resolution stating the necessity to request  a  1⁄2 mill replacement levy be placed on the November 5, 2013 general election ballot for the purposes of (a) maintaining, upgrading, improving, and/or expanding the Darke County Park District’s parks for conserving their natural resources and to benefit the general public through educational and passive recreational programming; (b) maintaining, replacing and purchasing equipment and retaining and hiring the personnel necessary for management of said facilities and programs and (c) enabling the Park District to support the parks and other recreational facilities owned or operated by the cities and villages located within Darke County through its Community Parks Improvement Grant program.  The original Park District levy was passed in 1993 and renewed in 2003.  The funding provided by the 2003 levy will end with the completion of the 2013 tax duplicate year and on through the collection year 2014. The 1⁄2 mill levy being placed on the ballot in November will be for an additional 10 years commencing with tax duplicate year 2014; collection year 2015. 

The Darke County Park District was established 41 years ago with a donation of 32 acres of property which is now Coppess Nature Sanctuary.  The Park District has grown to over 1,000 acres of land through donations by Darke County families along with local, state and federal grants to preserve special land areas for future generations of Darke Countians.  The Park District maintains a Nature Education Center (which also houses its administrative offices) located in Shawnee Prairie Preserve just outside of Greenville, along with a Pioneer Log House Historical Education Area and Sugar Shack.  The Nature Center meeting rooms and shelter house are used regularly by local non-profit and citizen groups for meetings and social events.  The Anthony Wayne Peace Council House across from the Garst Museum in Greenville and other structures around the county in twelve (12) peripheral park areas are also cared for by the Park District.  One of the Park District’s newest and largest endeavors for the people of Darke County is the construction of the Tecumseh Trail, funded by donations and local, state and federal grants.  It is a paved multi-use trail that will eventually cross the county from the Village of Bradford to the Village of Gettysburg through the City of Greenville to the Village of Union City. 

The Park District employs a Naturalist / Education staff to provide quality educational programs to the public about the natural and cultural history of Darke County and of the importance of preservation and conservation in the county.  The Park District hosts fun and educational programming in the Nature Center and Log House Education area and the twelve (12) parks throughout Darke County.  The Administrative Staff and Naturalists also provide educational on-site visits to schools, nursing homes and citizen group meetings.  Larger annual events, notably Prairie Days in September, the Maple Sugarin’ Festival in March and a winter holiday Luminary event in December have grown to the point of attracting people from outside of the County which provides an opportunity for the County to increase tourism receipts. 

Over the past 20 years through its 1⁄2 mill levy the Park District has distributed over $625,000 to the 21 local communities of Darke County to help obtain and improve land, construct facilities and purchase recreational equipment to enhance recreational opportunities for both children and adults to enjoy closer to home by way of its Community Parks Improvement Grants Program. 

The Park District’s Board of Commissioners, Director, Staff and Volunteers would like to thank Darke County for their support of the two previous Park District levies which has allowed the Park District to become a piece of the fabric that makes up our successful community.  Please contact Parks Director/Secretary, Roger M. Van Frank at (937) 548-0165 if you have any questions about the Darke County Park District.