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Park district outlines Grailville Preserve plan, asks voters to renew 10‑year levy
Summary
Claremont County Park District Executive Director Josh Torbeck updated Loveland council on the Grailville Preserve project — bids to be awarded mid‑May, construction planned for June, phased completion in 2027 — and reminded residents of a May vote on a 10‑year renewal levy (no new taxes; approx. $11 per $100,000 of assessed value).
Josh Torbeck, executive director of the Claremont County Park District, described plans for the Grailville Preserve during the Loveland City Council meeting. Torbeck said the district acquired roughly 116 acres with Clean Ohio funds and intends to develop about 3 acres for park amenities: a drive‑in parking lot, restrooms, a pavilion, an outdoor classroom or theater, an elevated boardwalk, a natural playground and small "work pods" with Wi‑Fi and power for outdoor study or remote work.
Torbeck told council the district formally advertised the construction bid and planned to award the contract in mid‑May, with construction hoped to begin in late June; staff set an outside finish date of April 1, 2027. He described the project as phased, with initial site work and access in phase one and additional wetland restoration and overlooks in a later phase.
Torbeck also reminded residents that the park district’s 10‑year levy renewal is on the upcoming May ballot. He described the levy as a renewal with no new taxes and estimated the rate at about $11 per $100,000 of appraised value. Torbeck said the levy funds day‑to‑day operations (about $2 million annually) and contributes $750,000–$1,000,000 annually toward capital (land acquisition, improvements), supplemented by grants (he cited about $5.5 million leveraged over the last 10 years) and a community grant program of roughly $100,000 per year distributed to local entities.
Councilmembers asked technical questions about parking access, trail connections and the levy’s split between operations and capital. Torbeck said parking access will be from State Route 48, with future coordination for a joint entrance where feasible, and reiterated the levy supports both operations and phased capital improvements.
