Clark County’s park system is staring down a high-stakes spring, as Springfield-area voters prepare to decide in May whether to renew a 0.6-mill, 10-year levy that pays for the day-to-day operation of the county’s parks. The issue is a straight renewal, not a tax hike. It is still calculated on 2011 property values and would continue to cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $21 a year. Park officials say that relatively small annual bill is what keeps staff on the job, restrooms open, trails maintained and basic programming running at dozens of sites across Clark County. After a replacement levy failed last fall, leaders are blunt that this May vote is the district’s next, and far riskier, chance to hang onto those operating dollars.
“We’re still operating on the money that we collected in 2011,” Clark County Park District Director Leann Castillo told reporters, noting that the levy supplies roughly three quarters of the district’s operating budget and supports 33 parks, more than 2,000 acres of land and about 30 miles of trails. According to the Springfield News-Sun, funds from the renewal would be used for maintenance rather than new capital projects, with the district pointing to community donations when new amenities are added. Levy committee member Ed Leventhal has flagged turnout as a major concern in a May election, which typically draws fewer voters than the big November contests.
County commissioners have also been reminding residents that the levy will appear on the spring ballot and that renewing it would not raise tax rates, according to the Clark County Board of Commissioners. The minutes show the board authorized a contract with the Clark County Park District and confirm the district’s plan to put the renewal before voters this spring. They also list the Park District’s administrative address as 1301 Mitchell Boulevard in Springfield.
The higher-yield replacement measure that would have updated levy collections to current property values failed in the Nov. 4, 2025, election, with about 53 percent voting against it, the Springfield News-Sun reported. Officials said that proposal would have adjusted collections to today’s appraised values, while the renewal on the May ballot keeps the rate at 0.6 mills so homeowners avoid the larger change that a replacement could have triggered. Park leaders have warned that repeated defeats would force a hard reassessment of staffing and services across the county.
Voter deadlines and new mail rules
Ohio’s primary is scheduled for May 5, 2026. The voter registration deadline is April 6, and early in-person and absentee voting begin April 7, according to the Ohio Secretary of State. An AP report notes that Senate Bill 293, signed into law in December, removed the four-day grace period for mailed absentee ballots. Ballots now have to be received by local boards of elections by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted.
What the levy pays for
The park district says the 0.6-mill renewal is the backbone of basic services across its 33 parks. The funding keeps restrooms and shelters usable, pays for trail maintenance, supports youth and senior programs, and helps run seasonal draws like the Chiller ice rink and Splash Zone. The National Trail Parks & Recreation District notes the operating rate has held at 0.6 mills since 2011 and estimates the cost at about $21 per $100,000 of appraised value. Officials also stress that capital additions, such as new playgrounds or spray grounds, typically come from community donors rather than levy dollars.
Next steps for voters and officials
Park leaders say they are gearing up for an outreach and information blitz before the spring election, trying to make sure residents understand that a “yes” vote simply continues the current levy. A loss in May would likely send them back to the ballot in November, with current funding projected to run through 2026. County officials say the mix of lower expected turnout in May and the tightened mail ballot rules makes voter education and timing especially crucial for a close question like this. For the latest on polling locations, early voting hours and absentee instructions, voters are urged to check directly with the Ohio Secretary of State or the Clark County Board of Elections.
