The battle over the Leavittsburg dam has had a ripple effect on talks between Trumbull Metroparks and Trumbull County Commissioners to establish an amended budget for 2025.

Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy says they haven't finalized any budgets for the 2025 year, but that they've asked department heads to amend their budgets, including the Metroparks which submitted for $136,000.

"Every other department head has worked with us at budget hearings, but the park board has chosen not to attend.", said Malloy.

On the contrary, Zach Svette, executive director of the Trumbull Metroparks says he hasn't been at the hearings, but has been listening in.

"Every indication is that the Metroparks are not getting funding, and that would lead to the closure of it's parks sometime in March.", Svette explained, adding that the park board has not been invited.

Trumbull County Commissioners Malloy and Rick Hernandez says the parks will not be shut down, and that it's a scare-tactic.

"We will maintain and find a source to maintain the bike trails and all Metroparks property.", said Hernandez, telling 21 News that the commissioners own those properties.

County commissioners also fund the Metroparks.

"The best solution would be for the Metroparks to come to the table to discuss with the commissioners, an amicable solution to talk with us about that dam and let's put that to rest." Hernandez said, emphasizing that anyone is invited to attend the meetings.

Legal counsel for the Commissioners recently filed an injunction to put a stop to work at the Leavittsburg Dam, with the goal of sitting down with the park board to work out a solution.

According to a Facebook Post from MLO Bros, Disc Golfers who frequent Young's Run Disc Golf Course in Warren, across from the Kent State Trumbull Campus, are concerned that a lack of funding will take away an activity that thousands enjoy. 

"It has to do with the Leavittsburg Dam, and I feel like there are going to be thousands of people punished because of it.", said Brad Silvers, a steadfast volunteer at the course. He's already started a petition pleading to County Commissioners to keep the course open, one that's garnered over 600 signatures as of this writing.

However Commissioners reiterated have no plans to shut these amenities down.

"If there are boulders put up in front of those entrances, those boulders will be taken down.", said Hernandez. "For the commissioners at this point I would not say that we are going to 100-percent defund them, I would say come to the table, let's get together and let's talk."