2021 Levy Proposal

Funding for Fairfield County Park District is provided by a ten-year, countywide property tax that was renewed in May 2021.

Currently, per year, the levy costs $ 9.61 per $100,000 of property valuation for an owner-occupied home.  For example, the owner of a $300,000 property currently pays $ 28.83 per year ($ 2.40 per month).  A resident whose property is appraised at $150,000 would continue to pay only $ 1.20 per month!

Spotted Salamander
Spotted Salamander | Nature Connection

Fairfield County Park District – Then, Now, Tomorrow

Many things were accomplished during the first levy period, 2011-2021.  The most notable achievement was the complete restoration of Rock Mill.  The documentary, “Rock Mill: Restoring an Original” can be see on our YouTube channel.  In the “Then, Now, Tomorrow” series of articles, you will find what was done at the parks during that time period and read about plans for the next levy period, 2021-2031.

Plans for the next ten years include many improvements to existing parks such as: permanent restrooms; more ADA-compatible access; new playgrounds and picnic shelters; extend, improve, and add trails; maintain historical features such as the locks, covered bridges, windmill, and log-framed structures; continued operation of Rock Mill and Wahkeena Nature Preserve; and wetland mitigations. New parklands to be developed are Mambourg Park (trails opened early 2021, the nature center to be opened at a later date), Stoney Hill Park, Hansel Park (with a dog park), and Wagner Preserve (heron rookery).

Fairfield County Park District & The Pandemic

During the pandemic, parks remain open.  Parks were open even when a State order made us close playgrounds for a short period of time.

Since entertainment options are severely limited during a pandemic, more and more people are coming to the parks. Attendance at many of our parks have doubled, some tripled! It is our hope that you and others have found a renewed appreciation for parks and nature preserves and will continue to visit our locations even when the pandemic is no longer changing lifestyles.