The land, currently owned by the Dille Laboratories Corp., is east of Interstate 675 with frontage on Feedwire, Little Sugarcreek and Swigart roads in Sugarcreek Twp.
Stewart said the levy money would be used solely for the acquisition of the new park.
The specifics of the request have not been hashed out.
“I am pretty certain it will be under one mill,” he said. “We don’t know yet if it will be for 10 years or 20 years.”
The proposed parkland is across the highway from 225 acres of land owned by the Dille family along Wilmington Pike that is at the center of an Ohio Supreme Court case pitting Centerville against Sugarcreek Twp.
Centerville wants to apply tax incremental financing on that recently annexed property.
The township contends that a provision of state law entitling it to continue receiving property tax revenue from land annexed to municipalities prevents the municipality from applying tax increment financing (TIF).
With a budget of $700,000, the park district currently has 12 parks with 200 acres in Sugarcreek Twp. and Bellbrook.
The district has two operating levies.
The new park would cover several parcels that now include cropland and pristine wooded areas with mature trees.
“It’s gorgeous,” Stewart said. “There are some really nice (tree) specimens up there.”
The land also has a Little Miami River tributary running through it.
At least initially, the park would be used for hiking and similar recreation.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2384 or arobinson@DaytonDaily News.com.
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