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Loveland Schools Approve Agreement to Acquire City-Owned Land Near High School
- Ryan Kulik
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
The Loveland City School District Board of Education voted Tuesday to move forward with an agreement that would transfer a 9.5-acre city-owned property next to Loveland High School to the school district.
The land, commonly known as Boike Park, sits adjacent to the Loveland High School campus and includes two athletic fields currently used for youth sports. District officials said those fields would remain available for community use if the transfer is approved.
According to the district, the proposed transfer is tied to upcoming Tax Increment Financing (TIF) payments the City of Loveland owes to the school district. Rather than a financial transaction, the agreement would satisfy those obligations through the transfer of property. District Treasurer John Espy said the arrangement would not impact school finances.
“If approved by the City of Loveland, the property transfer will not impact the district’s general fund budget, no financing is involved, and no funds would be transferred between the City and the District,” Espy said.
Board President Jonathan Eilert emphasized the cooperative nature of the agreement.
“We are fortunate to have a great working relationship with the City of Loveland and appreciate the opportunity to find a win-win partnership between our two organizations,” Eilert said.
Superintendent Mike Broadwater said acquiring the property could improve safety around Loveland High School and create opportunities for future campus planning. When school parking lots are full, students often park at nearby Phillips Park and cross Rich Road during peak traffic times.
“Having both sides of Tiger Trail under school district ownership would be an improvement for staff and student safety,” Broadwater said. He added that the district may explore expanded student parking on the property in the future.
The Board of Education approved its portion of the agreement during its January 20 business meeting. The proposal now moves to Loveland City Council, which is expected to consider the agreement in an upcoming meeting. The Loveland City Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.
No changes to current park access or youth sports programming are expected if the transfer is finalized.
What Is a TIF?
Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, is a public financing tool used by cities to support development projects.
When a TIF district is created, property tax revenue is frozen at its current level. As development occurs and property values increase, the additional tax revenue—the “increment”—is set aside to pay for public improvements such as roads, utilities, or other infrastructure tied to that development.
In Loveland, some of that future tax revenue would normally go to schools and other taxing entities. The city is required to make payments to the Loveland City School District to account for those diverted funds. The proposed land transfer would satisfy those obligations without requiring a cash payment from the city or affecting the school district’s operating budget.
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