Funds sought for $1.9M Cornerstone of Centerville park

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The coalition’s Priority Development and Advocacy Committee recently released the list of applying projects that it will sort through to make a prioritized list of what community projects to lobby for.

Now that the list is unveiled, the public can comment on the ideas until Dec. 8 at DaytonRegion.com or by emailing pdac@daytonregion.com.

City Manager Wayne Davis said the state funding is important to what kind of community features the park will be able to have.

“The park will go forward with or without the PDAC funds, but it’s a question how nice of an amenity we’re able to create,” he said.

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The park has been discussed for years as a key part of Cornerstone of Centerville, complementing the ongoing development of restaurants, retail, hotel and apartments.

The planned park — on about 18 acres and around an existing pond — is proposed to have features like a small amphitheater, trail looping around the pond and picnic area.

Davis said the park will bring a new recreation option in the city, where there isn’t much similar for amenities.

“We would like it to be a central amenity for job growth and more economic development to a critical project,” Davis said.

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The mixed-use Cornerstone of Centerville development along the Wilmington Pike/Interstate 675 corridor has seen sharp growth since its first anchor retailer, Costco, opened in 2014.

It’s now also anchored by Cabela’s and Kroger and has attracted a streak of new-to-market restaurants.

Along with catering to surrounding businesses and residences, the project design will help properly manage storm water runoff.

The city and Oberer, Cornerstone's developer, are still having ongoing discussions on how the park should be maintained and operated.

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One of the options being considered is whether a new community authority should be created to operate the park, which would be similar to a home owners association paying for the project with money from the surrounding property owners.

The park would be created by Oberer and, while there is no final deal on how it would be developed, Davis said the city of Centerville could be a party involved in funding its development.