MillCreek MetroParks spent thousands in legal fees to try and convince a judge to let them extend their bike trial.

The park hired a law firm, Roth, Blair, Roberts, to take seven land owners to court who opposed the final phase of their extension of their bike trail.

According to public records, in 2017 the park paid the firm nothing, but it took a big jump the next year to more than $20,000 when the case of the trail extension started to go to court. Over the next six years, the park continued to pay the law firm tens of thousands annually - peaking in 2021 when they paid them more than $116,000. 

The parks executive director, Aaron Young, told 21 News the law firm represents the park in the bike trail case and a variety of other cases. The park does not keep records of itemized numbers per case so it is unclear how much Roth, Blair, Roberts was paid just for services related to the trail.

MillCreek MetroParks payments to Roth Blair, Roberts via checkbook.ohio.gov:

  • 2017: $0 
  • 2018: $20,674 
  • 2019: $77,756 
  • 2020: $63,400 
  • 2021: $116,370 
  • 2022: $82,453 
  • 2023: $84,740 
  • 2024: $68,486.50 (January through October)*

*Note: 2024 figures are from the Mill Creek Check Registers section of its website. November totals have not yet been posted.

Most of the park's funds come from a levy you pay. 

A judge has ordered the park to pay the legal fees of the seven landowners who had to hire their own private council to fight the park, in addition to their own lawyer fees. The amount is unclear. 

The bike trail extension was the final phase of the park's "Great Ohio Lake to River Greenway." The completed trail would've been a continuous scenic route from the Trumbull-Mahoning County Line down into Green Township. The last phase would've run along the abandoned Erie Railroad tracks through seven private properties. Attorneys for the land owners tried to argue in court that the park could take an alternate route and not follow the tracks but the park was adamant that this was the best way.

According to some attorneys who represented the landowners, the park offered to buy the land from at least two of the owners before things headed to court. After those offers were denied the six year legal battle followed - ultimately with the judge siding with the landowners. 

The park said in a statement that they "believe in the importance of being good stewards of taxpayer funds" adding that they won't appeal the judge's decision  and will "begin to facilitate the return of over $3.4 million in previously awarded funds for the construction of Phase III of the MetroParks Bikeway."

The park said they have no alternative plans right now to finish the final phase of the bike trial. 

“Mill Creek MetroParks exists to serve the public through the implementation of our mission, and we’re incredibly proud of the important and fundamental role we play in the lives of Valley residents.  While we don’t enjoy when there are disagreements, we understand that when aiming high in providing the finest public parks for our community, challenges are often encountered.  We’re incredibly proud of the award winning MetroParks Bikeway system that we’ve built up to this point.  We also believe in the importance of being good stewards of taxpayer funds.  With those guiding principles in mind, the Board has decided to accept the local court’s decision and will not appeal.  MetroParks administration will begin to facilitate the return of over $3.4 million in previously awarded funds for the construction of Phase III of the MetroParks Bikeway.”

“Currently, there are no alternative plans to complete the final phase of the bikeway.”

- MillCreek MetroParks