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CHAMPION -- A group of residents is working to raise awareness about the need for a new park, including plans to cover the costs to support it.
Ron Dearth and Tom Hart, both of Champion and on the Champion Community Park Initiative committee, were among a group of people this weekend who hosted a rock-a-thon and raffle drawing to bring attention to the cause.
Dearth said volunteers agreed to rock in rocking chairs for six hours this weekend in a parking lot by the former Huntington Bank off state Route 45.
Hart said trustees have discussed adding a 1.75-mill park levy on the March 2024 ballot to raise approximately $2 million.
"The township trustees did a study to see what the feasibility of having a park in the township would be. Champion has two locations, the former Champion Central location and the former Champion Middle School location, which were both deemed not fit for a park," Dearth said.
Instead, a park is proposed at a township-owned, 60-acre property north of the cemetery and south of the school complex off state Route 45. The property is near the Greenway Bike Trail.
Dearth said the park would include a playground, pavilion, restrooms, parking area, electric service and sewer.
"There is no place to hold community events in Champion. We went to a couple of trustees meetings to discuss this. We formed a committee to help get the word out that since the township doesn't have the money for a park, the trustees would need to place a levy on the ballot," Hart said.
In addition to the proposed 1.75-mill, five-year park levy is a 0.25-mill maintenance levy for the park. Hart said the smaller levy would be for continual upgrades and improvements.
Committee members said a $250,000 federal grant already has been earmarked for the project and has to be used by 2025. Community donations also have been received.
The idea for the rock-a-thon came from Janet Hart, who, along with others, were rocking in the chairs. Tom Hart and Dearth handed out fliers and information about the park.
"This is the committee's first fundraising effort," Dearth said. "This is all about educating people and getting them out to vote next year for this levy."
Hart said the former Central School property has a soccer field and play area, which would be moved to a new park location.
Lisa Begalla of Champion said if the new park comes to fruition, she would like to rent a pavilion there.
She said she lives nearby in the Statler Ridge Development and could walk to the park.
"I like the renderings of the park. I like what is being proposed," Begalla said.