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Commission weighs feasibility of 50–80 acre community park; favors passive search and upgrades to existing fields
Summary
Commissioners discussed a long‑running proposal for a large community sports park (50–80 acres), cost uncertainty, CDAA offers and whether to increase the levy for land acquisition; the commission decided to continue a passive search for land and focus on upgrading existing fields if CDAA funding is limited.
Commissioners held an extended discussion about whether Dayton should pursue a large community park — estimates discussed ranged from roughly $5 million for land at the low end to $50–70 million for a full buildout, depending on site and scope — and whether the city should actively pursue 50–80 acres for a regional sports complex.
Speakers said the Community Development Authority (CDA/A) has approached the city with interest in supporting a buildout and that the CDAA’s participation in Dayton has increased as the city has attracted younger families. Commissioners said the CDAA indicated it may be more willing to fund facility build‑outs (dugouts, scoreboards, parking) than land acquisition itself; staff said the CDAA’s funding commitments lacked precise dollar amounts and that commissioners needed more concrete proposals before the commission could commit to land purchase or a levy increase.
Commissioners raised practical and equity questions: a large sports complex would primarily serve a subset of organized sports and youth families for a limited period of their lives, while trails and smaller neighborhood parks serve broader, longer‑term use. Several commissioners favored a cautious approach. The group agreed to continue passively searching for opportunities — “if something falls in our lap,” as one speaker put it — rather than actively dedicating staff time and new levy revenue to a targeted land acquisition at this time.
Staff briefed the commission on current funding: the city sets aside $150,000 a year toward land purchase in the capital levy; commissioners discussed whether to increase the levy but several said they would not support an increase without a community survey that included a dollar figure and clearer cost estimates. Commissioners said the city will re‑survey residents next year to refine willingness‑to‑pay questions.
The commission agreed to these directions: continue passive land searches; be prepared to evaluate any concrete CDAA proposal that includes specific dollar commitments; prioritize upgrades to existing fields if CDAA funding is better directed to improvements rather than land purchase; and continue long‑range planning to stage park system development.
