Summit County Voters Approve Metro Parks Levy

Summit County voters resoundingly approved a 2-mill levy for Summit Metro Parks.

The tax is a renewal and an increase. Homeowners currently pay $3.47 per month for a home valued at $100,000. The levy will raise that rate by $1.58 per month.

The funding the levy provides is essential for the parks to continue operating, said Summit Metro Parks spokeswoman Stephanie Walton.

Walton said it's been 14 years since the Metro Parks last sought a levy.

“The levy provides about 90 percent of the park district’s funding, so this election was absolutely critical," Walton said. "These funds allow us to continue operating at our expanded size, since the last levy that was passed about 14 years ago, so we’ll be able to continue providing those clean and safe parks and delivering free educational and recreational programs to the residents of Summit County.”

Summit Metro Parks oversees 16 parks and 150 miles of trails.  The Metro Parks attract about 5 million visitors each year.

Gov. Mike DeWine designated Metro Parks an essential service during the coronavirus pandemic and encouraged people to get out and enjoy parks. Many people have, but Walton said she does not think that played a significant role in the levy's passage.

"This area has a rich history of supporting their parks, and I think recent weeks have just kind of driven that point home,” she said.

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