Programming draws visitors

By Todd Mounce

TheNewsOutlet.org

YOUNGSTOWN

Mill Creek MetroParks leaders are optimistic that changes happening now will set the 110-year-old system park on a path to sustain the footprints first set by founder Volney Rogers.

The park system has been without a full-time director since August, and its board is trying to smooth its expansion from three voting members to five.

Also, for the first time in 12 years, the golf courses are raising rates.

New board member John Ragan looks not to the golf course but to another Mill Creek icon as the bellwether.

“Fellows Riverside Gardens is unbelievable,” Ragan said. “There is no reason why all the structures eventually can’t be like that.”

That sentiment solidifies the changing reality that interim director Tom Bresko does not evade. He remembers when he was a kid and he was among park patrons who came to explore, have a picnic with the family and go hiking.

Those days are over.

“Park use has changed,” Bresko said. “We need to do something to bring the people out, and it is through programming.”

Last year, the board under the auspices of Mahoning County Probate Court was expanded to five members with the addition of Ragan, Daniel De Salvo and Dr. Robert Durick. They joined Virginia Dailey, who has been on the board since 1998, and Jay Macejko, who was appointed in January 2009.

“Change always brings about fear, concern or reservations. But history will demonstrate that expansion to a five-member board was the correct decision,” Macejko said.

With the additions of Ragan and Durick, and with De Salvo replacing retired member Carl Nunziato, the three new members have instant majority over the returning Dailey and Macejko.

“I knew right away from the accounts in the paper that some of the board members weren’t excited about the expansion,” Ragan said. “I believe that they weren’t excited because they were going to lose control of the board and the direction they wanted to push Mill Creek MetroParks.”

Count Dailey as initially concerned; but that was then.

“We have three new board members who are all intelligent, dedicated, love the park and want nothing but the best for the park,” Dailey said. “They are making strides to learn about park operations and serving the community so the park can be the best it can possibly be.”

The group still has as its biggest task the hiring of a new director to replace Dave Imbrogno, who resigned in August. Bresko — whose official role is recreation and programs director — has been the interim director. He believes the board will have a new director chosen within the next two to three months.

Founded in 1891 by Rogers, the park covers 4,445 acres in Mahoning County and offers residents programs and activities as well as the beauty of nature to enjoy.

No longer is Mill Creek solely a destination for nature lovers, but instead has developed into a place that offers a variety of events and activities for all ages. Bringing people into the park is one way the park has managed to stay financially stable despite the economy.

“When I started as the director of recreation, we had one special event out of the department,” Bresko recalled. “Now we must have 12 to 15 special events and hundreds of other programs — all in an attempt to get people to come out and enjoy the MetroParks.”

The MetroParks received more than $10 million in 2009 through taxes, park revenues and grants.

The major sources of income are property taxes and state funding, directing more than $6.8 million into the park. That has remained consistent the last several years.

Despite a poor economy in 2009, visitors still came to the park.

In all, 29 park operations saw increases in revenues when compared with 2008. Eighteen operations had a decrease in revenue.

Revenue from park operations totaled $1.57 million in 2009, up $151,000 from 2008.

The park’s age, however, requires some major improvements to the historic and aging buildings, Bresko said.

“There are always short-range plans that get us year to year. But we do need to focus more long-term, and we have to prioritize.”

The park gets levies on the books for 15 years. The operating levy that Mill Creek is under won’t go back to voters until 2015.

Even with inflation, the money made through the levy stays a fixed sum. The duration of the levy has been a key part in keeping the money coming into the park consistent, and Ragan believes that the park can flourish in these tough times.

Since 2005, money for capital-equipment purchases has decreased three times while increasing only once. The amount has been as high as $781,000 in 2007. Only $125,000 was expended in 2009.

“The amount of capital depends on the needs, and, in 2010, it is going to lean toward the golf course,” Bresko said.

Grants and donations are an integral aspect of keeping money coming into the park.

“It’s going to be tough to get an additional levy or an increase in levy in the future. So we are looking at other means of funding,” Bresko added.

There was a significant drop-off in grant money coming into the MetroParks from 2008 to 2009. In ’08, the park received $1.89 million through grants, while last year the park received $189,000.

The majority of difference came in the Clean Ohio Grant for the purchase of property on Western Reserve Road. Treasurer Dave Christy said the grant was a one-time project.

Mill Creek’s cash king, however, is golf — bringing in almost $1.2 million last year, an increase of $112,000 from 2008. But it cost the MetroParks more than $1.4 million to run the golf department.

Miller said the goal is for the golf department to one day be self-sufficent. He added that rate increases will help reach that goal. Miller expects to hear some criticism for the rate increase but feels it will benefit the park in the long run and help with rising park expenses.

Residents will now pay $10, instead of $8.75, to play nine holes. The 18-hole cost rises from $17.50 to $20. Nonresident rates will increase to $12.50 for nine holes and $25 for 18.

“We evaluated our current golf-course conditions, did a thorough review of what other area golf courses are charging and then we looked at our needs in the future,” Miller said.

The NewsOutlet is a joint media venture by student and professional journalists and is a collaboration of Youngstown State University, WYSU radio and The Vindicator.