Warren County adds township park to sports complex land

Warren County is buying another 22.4 ares for the new Warren County Sports Park at Union Village.

This afternoon, the county’s port authority board approved purchasing the land from Turtlecreek Twp., which had developed a park there.

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The port authority would then lease it — along with the 100-plus acres already under construction for the sports complex — to the county’s convention and visitors bureau.

The port authority is to pay $200,000 for the land.

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The township is to keep the rest of the land, about 6.5 acres, for expansion of the fire station adjoining the park, near the intersection of Ohio 741 and Greentree Road, according to Matthew Schnipke, deputy director for the county’s Office of Economic Development and secretary of the port authority.

Last September, the township trustees indicated they would be willing to sell the park for the sports complex project.

It was unclear if the township planned to replace the park, which featured a disc golf course.

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Martin Russell, director of the port authority, said the land would remain a “passive park,” at least initially.

The park also provides another entrance to the facility, reducing costs for road improvements, County Administrator Tiffany Zindel said during the port board meeting.

Board Chairman Greg Sample asked the value of the land.

Phil Smith, director of the convention bureau, said the trustees set a price, which was deemed below market value through a casual search, but no appraisal was done.

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