Rotarian Rich Corfman (left), holding a Wayne County Parks Sign with Phil Grimm. Birds, Bees, and Barnes Preserve, oh my!
Wayne County is so blessed to have an organization like the Wayne County Parks District (WCPD)! The WCPD has five park commissioners that are committed to securing and preserving natural habitats for recreational and education purposes. Currently the only park they developed and preserve is Barnes Preserve, but the upcoming levy could change it all. Our WCPD was established in 1991, but over time it dwindled away. It reorganized in 2011 and this year they are hoping to make some significant changes to benefit the parks and our county in turn.
Phil Grimm, previous Orrville Graduate from the class of 1970, and also previous employee of Orrville City Schools, has a strong connection to the Orrville community. He is currently a Board Member for Wayne County Parks and is helping to raise awareness of all the great areas and land we have in the county, and how they could play a big role in caring for it, and increasing accessibility to those areas. In the next election, there will be a levy for the Wayne County Parks District that will help fund their upcoming plans for land in the county. 57% of the levy will be used to fund creation of new parks like Kister Mill, Clinton Wetlands, the Linden Family Playground, and more, while 37% will help to fund new staff, an office, supplies, and more to help take care of those parks once they are created. In total, it is a .5 mil levy, and they need our votes to continue their great work.
Huge thanks to Phil for coming to the weekly Rotary meeting to share about how we can help preserve the great nature we have around us in Wayne County. If you are interested in learning more about the WCPD and the upcoming levy, please visit their website at waynecountyparkdistrict.org.