ONLINE EXCLUSIVE - Episode 55 of the News Makers podcast explores Miami County Parks funding, conservation efforts, and the growing Holiday Lights tradition at Lost Creek Reserve.
TIPP CITY — Miami County Park District voters face a proposal that would lower the district’s stated tax rate but increase what property owners pay — a distinction Executive Director Scott Meyers says is central to understanding the upcoming levy. To listen to the episode, search for News Makers on any podcast platform.
Speaking on News Makers, the official podcast of the Tippecanoe Gazette, Meyers outlined a proposed 1.4-mill levy intended to take the place of the district’s existing 1.5-mill levy. According to the figures he provided, the annual cost would rise from $29.96 to $49 for every $100,000 of property value, an increase of $19.04.
The conversation also explored what that funding supports: 15 parks, approximately 2,200 acres, environmental education and community events, including the Holiday Lights display at Lost Creek Reserve.
Understanding the levy
Meyers emphasized that the proposal is not a simple renewal. Although the ballot describes an “additional” levy, he said the park board has adopted a resolution to cancel the existing levy if the new measure passes, rather than collect both. “It’s not going to be a second levy,” Meyers said. “It’s replacing the other one.”
The distinction between the lower millage and higher cost reflects changes in property values since voters approved the existing levy in 2017, Meyers explained. He said the district has not received a corresponding increase in revenue from rising valuations under that levy. The proposed levy would apply a lower stated rate to current values, producing more revenue than the district now collects.
For property owners, the estimated increase amounts to about $1.58 a month for each $100,000 of value, Meyers said. He stressed that residents should not interpret the reduction from 1.5 mills to 1.4 mills as a reduction in their tax bill. “We’re lowering the millage, but people will still pay more,” he said, due to rising property values.
Rising costs and long-term planning
Property taxes account for about 86% of the park district’s budget, according to Meyers. That support allows the district to offer many activities without fees and keep charges low for others.
But operating expenses have increased while revenue from the existing levy has remained essentially flat, he said. To manage that imbalance, the district saves money during the early years of a levy and draws on those reserves in later years as expenses rise. “For the first five, six years, we’re spending less than we’re bringing in, which is what we should be doing,” Meyers said.
The current 10-year levy runs through the end of 2027, he said. In considering its next funding request, the board reviewed projections and alternatives. A straightforward renewal would require budget reductions of approximately 20% to 25%, Meyers estimated, while a new levy at the full 1.5 mills would generate more money than the district needs. That analysis led to the 1.4-mill proposal, he said.
A conservation district, not a city parks department
Meyers also addressed a recurring source of confusion: The Miami County Park District does not oversee every park in the county. “We’re a conservation-based organization,” he said, distinguishing the district from municipal park systems in Tipp City, Troy and Piqua. Kyle Park in Tipp City and Duke Park in Troy, for example, are not district properties.
The district’s own properties offer a range of natural settings, from the 37-foot waterfall at Charleston Falls to restored habitat at Hobart Urban Nature Preserve. It also maintains sections of the bike trail outside city limits connecting county communities, Meyers said.
Charleston Falls remains the district’s best-known destination, drawing well over a quarter-million visits annually, according to Meyers. Lost Creek Reserve, meanwhile, has developed into its principal special-event site. Heritage Hall at Lost Creek has added something the district previously lacked: indoor programming space. The facility also accommodates weddings, receptions, events, and corporate gatherings, broadening how local residents and businesses can use the property.
Holiday Lights grows from an earlier tradition
The district’s Holiday Lights event began in 2019 at Lost Creek Reserve, but its roots reach back to holiday lights displays at Charleston Falls. Those earlier celebrations featured luminaries along the route to the waterfall, red and green spotlights, cookies, and hot chocolate.
Eventually, its popularity created problems. Meyers recalled an event designed for approximately 1,500 people drawing more than 5,000, causing significant traffic congestion. Wet-weather parking also created concerns for the natural area. He got a call from the sheriff about a massive traffic jam—and knew they needed to make some changes.
A drive-through display at Lost Creek offered more room and a different way to welcome visitors. A $75,000 grant from The Troy Foundation helped purchase the initial displays, and the park district has continued adding to the attraction. Bruns Realty Group has served as its main sponsor since the beginning, Meyers said.
Today, visitors encounter illuminated barns and a farmhouse, decorated equipment, lighted trees, arches, and displays along a route through the property’s fields and woods. They even have an elf catapult! The district budgets about $10,000 annually for additional lights, according to Meyers. Admission remains $10 per carload, a price he said reflects the board’s intention to provide an affordable community event rather than operate a profit center.
A community effort — and a family outing
Holiday Lights also gives local organizations a way to raise money while helping operate the event. Participating groups provide approximately 10 to 14 volunteers to assist with admission and traffic alongside park staff. In return, the district makes a $500 donation to the organization, Meyers said. Schools, churches, nonprofit organizations, and scouting groups have participated in the arrangement.
For visitors, the drive-through format creates an opportunity to enjoy a park event even if hiking is not practical or appealing. Meyers said it often brings multiple generations together in one vehicle.
The larger goal, he said, is to help families build a tradition — perhaps combining the lights with dinner, downtown shopping or another holiday activity. “We want it to be not just drive to lights and go home,” Meyers said. “You’re making it a thing,” Enslen added.
He said this season’s display is scheduled to begin on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and will also open Dec. 26 and 27. Visitors can pay cash at the entrance or purchase a single-use ticket online for any operating night. Online purchases carry a processing fee; credit cards will not be accepted directly at the gate this season, he said. Full operating dates and event information are available through MiamiCountyParks.com.
“Every day is levy day”
While much of the interview focused on explaining the ballot measure, Meyers said the district’s relationship with residents develops long before an election. The district’s guiding idea, he said, is that “every day is levy day.” Residents form their opinions through visits, programs and encounters with staff, whether those experiences happened last week or years ago.
Meyers acknowledged that higher property taxes are a legitimate concern for homeowners. His goal in discussing the levy, he said, is to ensure voters understand both the cost and the services it provides before making their decision. “The best thing is to have all the information you can so you can make an educated decision,” he said.
For Meyers, the interview’s central message was about both understanding the levy and recognizing the everyday work it supports. From maintaining natural areas and offering environmental education to creating family traditions through Holiday Lights, he described a park district focused on serving residents while planning for rising costs.
As voters weigh the proposal, Meyers said his priority is ensuring they have the information to make an informed decision — with the district continuing to earn their trust through each park visit, program, and interaction with staff.
The News Makers podcast, hosted by Greg Enslen, features conversations with people, organizations and stories of interest to the Miami County community. The podcast is sponsored by the Tippecanoe Gazette. To listen to this and future episodes, search for News Makers on any podcast platform or visit https://tipp-gazette-news-makers.captivate.fm.
