OxfordPress.com

TURTLECREEK TWP. — Warren County commissioners agreed to purchase Armco Park for $4.4 million from AK Steel Corp.

"We're very pleased to be able to keep this beautiful piece of property as a park and to make it available to all residents, free of charge," said Warren County Commissioner Pat South.

She and Commissioner Dave Young voted Tuesday, June 3, to buy the 310-acre park located on Ohio 741 in Turtlecreek Twp. north of Ohio 63. Commissioner Mike Kilburn was not present.

South said that Warren County is paying $1.4 million, $1 million is coming from the state through a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Turtlecreek Twp. and Otterbein Retirement Living Community are each paying $1 million.

Turtlecreek must still approve its portion of the sale, which is on the agenda for the trustees' meeting Monday, June 9.

"I've received no negative feedback on the purchase," said Turtlecreek Twp. Trustee Dan Jones. "I think it's a good idea to keep it as a park area. What else could it be?"

The park had been a private recreation area for AK Steel's Middletown Works employees. Features include an 18-hole golf course, 33 picnic shelters, four baseball fields, a lake and a snack shop.

South said the Warren County Park District will assume operation for the park's upkeep, but believed it would work closely with the Armco Park Association, the current operators of the park, to ensure a smooth transition.

"AK Steel employees can continue to have a wonderful park to use and now they no longer have to pay membership dues," South said. "It's a very good purchase for the county."

South said the county still has 90 days to perform due diligence — investigation of basic quality and background of the land — before the purchase is finalized, but does not foresee any obstacles.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com

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