Warren County's three park commissioners will vote Friday on whether to place a 0.7-mill, six-year tax levy before county voters. If approved, the measure would fund the district that operates Landen-Deerfield Park in Deerfield Township and 11 other properties across the county.

The special meeting begins at 8 a.m. at the park district's headquarters, 1267 N. State Route 741 in Lebanon, and is open to the public. The board consists of President Wendy Monroe, Vice President Chris Hice and member Benjamin J. Yoder. Executive Director Matt Latham leads the district's staff.

The meeting agenda identifies the levy as 0.7 mills for six years but does not specify a spending plan or cost per household. If the resolution passes, the Warren County Board of Elections would place the question on a future ballot. That election date has not been announced.

Deerfield Township's stake

The park district manages 1,716 acres across 12 parks countywide. Landen-Deerfield Park, at 2258 U.S. Routes 22 and 3 in Maineville, is one of two flagship properties alongside Armco Park.

The vote follows the park district's July 10 ribbon-cutting for a completed Headwaters Restoration project at Landen-Deerfield Park. That project transformed a former manmade pond into a natural stream and wetland system, funded through Gov. Mike DeWine's H2Ohio program and American Rescue Plan Act dollars. Deerfield Township was among the project partners.

Deerfield Township also helped fund a March economic impact study by the University of Cincinnati's Economics Center. The study found outdoor recreation generates $96.4 million in annual economic output for Warren County and supports more than 1,150 jobs. The return: roughly $4.60 for every $1 invested. The study covered 12,475 acres and 124 miles of trails but excluded commercial attractions like Kings Island.

"We wanted to quantify the benefits of the other amazing parks, trails, and other natural assets that Warren County offers, which may not be as well-known, but are equally deserving of recognition," Latham said when the study was released in March.

What's next

The board's vote is expected Friday morning. If the resolution passes, the levy question goes to Warren County voters at a future election. The Mason-Deerfield Times will report the outcome after the July 24 meeting.