TOLEDO, Ohio -
Cracking down on gun violence in the City of Toledo is one reason Mayor Mike Bell says voters should pass the Parks levy on the November ballot.
Levy supporters know it's an uphill battle. Taxpayers' wallets are already stretched and many don't want to pay any more in taxes.
But the focus on safety, gun crime, and keeping kids off the streets hits home for young parents.
"First thing he says when he wakes up, 'Let's go to the park!'" says Jeff Minnick, a South Toledo dad.
Three-year-old Brayden lives in the South End.
Every morning his dad takes him to Highland Park to fly a kite and play on the jungle gym.
But Minnick is worried about his son's safety because of gun crime in the community.
"Nowadays, you know, especially over here, it's getting pretty bad," says Minnick.
"I get tired of people telling me we need to have a curfew," says Mayor Mike Bell. "No we don't need to have a curfew. We need to figure out how to put some good energy into activities for these kids, get them tired so at night they go home, then go to sleep."
Tuesday at Savage Park in Central Toledo Mayor Mike Bell put his support behind the Parks levy on the November ballot.
The levy would cost the owner of a $60,000 home about $18 a year.
If approved it would generate roughly $3 million a year to go into a dedicated Parks and Recreation Fund which would be separate from the city's general fund.
"I think it's well worth the investment," says Dan Wagner, President of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association.
Wagner says the city uses $1 million a year out of the general fund to pay for recreational programming. The levy would free up that general fund money. The extra money could instead help pay for more officers on the streets.
"They're basically running from call to call, they don't have the time to stop and check guys," says Wagner. "And that's why you see a rise in gun violence because they feel more comfortable carrying the guns because they know the likelihood of being stopped is lessened because the crews are too busy."
Minnick says levy or not, the city needs to put more money in play for the parks.
"More things we can have for the kids like blow-up fun festival things here, anything like that," says Minnick.
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