GREENVILLE – A Darke County Park Board District Board Meeting took place Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Shawnee Prairie Preserve and Nature Center, in Greenville, Ohio.

Each year, the the park district shares up to $50,000 of .5 mill operating levy money with any of the 21 parks in the county who apply. This year, $46,676.61 was awarded to 12 different area projects. Actual disbursement amounts differed, based on individual cases. The following are the recipients of the grant funds awarded to community parks this year: Ansonia, $8,000; Gettysburg, $1,829.76; Greenville, $4,444.74; New Madison, $6,663.20; North Star, $300; Palestine, $601.85; Pitsburg, $5,000; Rossburg, $600.05; Union City, Ohio, $4,990.00; Versailles, $7,000 and Wayne Lakes, $5,000.

In other news, an amount of $190 was approved to replace a vandalized sign on Chestnut Street Marsh. This is a small marsh on the edge of Greenville and adjacent to the Shawnee Prairie Preserve and Nature Center.

“This year vandalism, has been horrible,” Darke County Park District Director Roger Van Frank said. “Ink markers are on almost every sign we have. The same markers are on the city dump. We have spent at least 80 hours of manpower, and thousands of dollars on replacement signs and manpower, cleaning up and changing out signs. Some signs are so far destroyed, they are beyond salvaging.”

Commissioner Steve Shaltry said, like any other city, it is an on-going problem.

“Some years are worse than others,” he said.

Wayne Nichols of Darke County Parks Maintenance submitted plans for a preliminary discussion about a maintenance facility, to be located on the property of Shawnee Prairie Preserve. The proposed plans include a shop, a storage area, two meeting rooms, an office and a restroom. Van Frank said the proposal will be revisited in the short future.

“We need to study and look at it, ask questions, get some answers and get an idea of general costs,” he said.

In a Naturalist report park district Naturalist Mandy Martin showed an increase of school programs scheduled for the new year.

“I hope she does this every year, and keeps some statistics,” Shaltry said.

Each year, the Darke County Park District shares up to $50,000 of .5 mill operating levy money with any of the 21 parks in the county who apply. This year, $46,676.61 was awarded to 12 different area projects. Pictured are some commissioners and some representatives of county parks receiving checks to repay their annual projects: Incoming Darke County Park District Commissioner Tina White; Mayor of Rossburg Danny Howe; Village of Wayne Lakes Mayor Gary Lee Young; park Darke County Park District Commissioner Roger Brocious; North Star Council Member Joe Wagner; Village of Ansonia Administrator Tom Welbaum; Village of New Madison Council Member Patty Jackson; Jennifer Scantland of Palastine; Union City, Ohio Fiscal Officer Karen Stubbs; Treasurer of Franklin-Monroe Junior Baseball, Village of Pitsburg Christoph Keller, Former Darke County District Board Member Susan Gray and Darke County Park District Commissioner Steve Shaltry.

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_darkecountyPark2PRINT.jpgEach year, the Darke County Park District shares up to $50,000 of .5 mill operating levy money with any of the 21 parks in the county who apply. This year, $46,676.61 was awarded to 12 different area projects. Pictured are some commissioners and some representatives of county parks receiving checks to repay their annual projects: Incoming Darke County Park District Commissioner Tina White; Mayor of Rossburg Danny Howe; Village of Wayne Lakes Mayor Gary Lee Young; park Darke County Park District Commissioner Roger Brocious; North Star Council Member Joe Wagner; Village of Ansonia Administrator Tom Welbaum; Village of New Madison Council Member Patty Jackson; Jennifer Scantland of Palastine; Union City, Ohio Fiscal Officer Karen Stubbs; Treasurer of Franklin-Monroe Junior Baseball, Village of Pitsburg Christoph Keller, Former Darke County District Board Member Susan Gray and Darke County Park District Commissioner Steve Shaltry. Carolyn Harmon | The Daily Advocate

Incoming Darke County Park District Commissioner Tina White, Commissioner John Cook, Commissioner Roger Brocious, Versailles Village Administrator Rod Hale, Commissioner Steve Shaltry and former Darke County Park Board Member Susan Gray celebrate a moment. Versailles Village Administrator Rod Hale received a $7,000 grant to reconstruct a basketball court, that was originally a skating rink. “The kids are playing on it like crazy,” he said.

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_darkeparkPRINTjpg.jpgIncoming Darke County Park District Commissioner Tina White, Commissioner John Cook, Commissioner Roger Brocious, Versailles Village Administrator Rod Hale, Commissioner Steve Shaltry and former Darke County Park Board Member Susan Gray celebrate a moment. Versailles Village Administrator Rod Hale received a $7,000 grant to reconstruct a basketball court, that was originally a skating rink. “The kids are playing on it like crazy,” he said. Carolyn Harmon | The Daily Advocate