Some people are asking if racism and classism led to decades of neglect of the William McGuffey Holmes Wildlife Preserve?
 
State Representative Michele Lepore-Hagan and Mahoning Commissioners have weighed in by sending letters to Mill Creek MetroParks' Board. 
 
WFMJ News talked with Park Board members who insist the Wildlife Preserve in Coitsville IS being maintained to the tune of over one-half million dollars.
 
Lepore-Hagan sent a letter to the Mill Creek MetroParks Board suggesting upkeep would have taken place had the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve been located in a more affluent area of Mahoning County.
 
Lepore-Hagan says the National Historic Landmark and 73 acres are important to preserve the legacy of William McGuffey, America's storyteller who helped teach millions of our country's children to learn how to read and write in public schools, with his McGuffey readers.
 
But some on the board say they are disappointed in the letters also sent by Mahoning Commissioners asking have they gone out to the park, have they walked the trails, did they call us? 
 
They say Mill Creek MetroParks has spent plenty on upkeep and point out there is a difference between a park and a preserve.
 
"We say we've spent over $500,000 to take care of the trail and make sure they're open and not overgrown," Germaine Bennett said.
 
Bennett also believes it's important to honor the memory of William McGuffey.
 
"As recent as another year or two they spent another $50,000 there," Tom Frost said.
 
"If you go out there and look, the trails are clear. Everybody was saying I went out and looked the trails are clear so we are keeping it up," emphasized Lee Frey.
 
They defend letting the deck and pond go where nature intends it to go, and emphasize that the contract never mentioned a pond or deck. 
 
The board members say the community is very satisfied, they don't want the park board to leave it to the historical society because they feel the historical society does not have the monies to maintain it. They gave them $15,000 in 1998 which has been used.
 
Richard Scarsella, who represents the William McGuffey Historical Foundation asks if this were in Canfield or Poland or more affluent areas would Mill Creek need it in a contract to keep up a pond and deck?  
 
He and others are asking why no grants were sought to keep the McGuffey pond over the years? He asks why no American Rescue Plan dollars were requested either?
 
The board did not vote on a motion on whether to give the property back to the foundation. They said that was since Richard Scarsella was not there.
 
So the question remains. Should more money and attention be spent to keep up a wildlife preserve in a poorer less affluent part of Mahoning County by Mill Creek MetroParks, which has more than $7 million in the bank?
 
WFMJ News requested in person and is requesting through e-mail an itemization of the half a million spent at the preserve.