Liberty Township and Columbus Zoo Reach Settlement: What Delaware County Residents Should Know
A yearlong legal battle between Liberty Township and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium appears to be coming to an end, with township trustees approving a settlement that could bring $725,000 to Liberty Township over the next five years.
For residents of Powell, Liberty Township and southern Delaware County, this isn't simply a legal story.
It's a story about who pays for emergency services at one of Central Ohio's largest attractions, how those services are funded and what happens when local government and a major community institution disagree over the bill.
Here's what happened and where things stand now.
The Columbus Zoo Could Pay Liberty Township $725,000
According to reporting by Taylor Henninger for Delaware Source, Liberty Township trustees approved a settlement agreement with the Columbus Zoological Park Association, which operates the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Under the settlement, the zoo will pay:
$150,000 within five business days after the agreement becomes effective
$115,000 per year for five years, beginning December 31, 2026
If all payments are made, that brings the total to $725,000.
In exchange, Liberty Township will continue providing emergency medical services to the zoo under the terms of the agreement.
The trustees also rescinded two resolutions connected to the township's controversial "Protect and Serve" charge, effectively abandoning the admission surcharge that helped trigger the lawsuit.
How Did Liberty Township and the Zoo Get Here?
This dispute goes back to July 2025.
Liberty Township originally approved a $1 "Protect and Serve" charge that would have been added to certain Columbus Zoo admissions and memberships. The township later reduced the proposed fee to 75 cents.
The idea was to help Liberty Township offset the cost of providing fire and emergency medical services to the zoo.
The Columbus Zoo disagreed.
In August 2025, the zoo sued Liberty Township in Delaware County Common Pleas Court, challenging the township's authority to impose the charge and attempting to stop its collection.
The zoo argued that its own EMS and safety personnel handle most medical and safety incidents on zoo property and that Liberty Township is generally called for more serious situations requiring additional assistance or hospital transportation.
A Judge Initially Sided With Liberty Township
The legal fight didn't immediately go the zoo's way.
A visiting judge ruled that Liberty Township had authority under state law to impose the charge.
The Columbus Zoo appealed that ruling to Ohio's Fifth District Court of Appeals.
But then the situation changed at the state level.
Ohio Lawmakers Changed the Law
In June 2026, Ohio lawmakers repealed the 2025 law that had allowed certain townships to impose a "protect and serve charge" on admissions to large, tax-exempt entertainment venues.
That effectively eliminated Liberty Township's ability to collect its proposed 75-cent charge on zoo admissions.
At that point, the legal and financial landscape had changed significantly.
According to Delaware Source, Gov. Mike DeWine subsequently brought the two parties together in an effort to resolve the dispute.
And now we have the settlement.
What Does Liberty Township Have to Do?
The annual $115,000 payments aren't unconditional.
They are connected directly to Liberty Township continuing to provide EMS services to the zoo.
If Liberty Township voluntarily stops providing those services during the five-year agreement, the zoo would no longer be responsible for the remaining annual payments.
There's another interesting provision.
The settlement says the zoo cannot obtain EMS services from another public entity or political subdivision until its compensation obligations to Liberty Township have been fulfilled.
The zoo can, however, contract with a private EMS provider at any time.
That's an important distinction.
Why This Matters to Liberty Township Residents
It's easy to look at this as simply a fight between a township and the zoo.
For residents, though, the underlying question has always been bigger:
Who should pay for public safety services required by a major attraction?
The Columbus Zoo isn't an ordinary property.
It draws huge numbers of visitors into the Powell and Liberty Township area, and those visitors can occasionally require emergency services.
At the same time, the zoo maintains its own safety and EMS resources and argued during the dispute that Liberty Township responds to only a small percentage of incidents.
Those competing realities were at the heart of the disagreement.
The settlement creates a defined financial arrangement instead of continuing to fight over an admission surcharge.
For township residents, that means there is now a clearer framework for how the zoo contributes toward the EMS services Liberty Township provides.
And Yes, This Matters to Real Estate Too
Not because I expect this settlement to suddenly change home values in Powell or Liberty Township. That's a stretch, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise.
But local government decisions matter to real estate over time.
Property owners care about:
Property taxes
Public safety
Fire and EMS coverage
Infrastructure
Government spending
Community amenities
Development
Quality of life
And the Columbus Zoo is unquestionably part of the identity of this area.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of the major attractions that puts this part of Central Ohio on the map.
People relocating to Powell and southern Delaware County frequently ask about schools, taxes, traffic and amenities.
The zoo is part of that lifestyle conversation.
So is the government infrastructure necessary to support a growing community and the destinations located within it.
Growth Makes These Conversations More Important
Delaware County continues to grow.
And growth isn't just about building more houses.
More residents, businesses, attractions and visitors mean more demand on roads, schools, water and sewer systems, fire departments, police and EMS.
Someone ultimately has to pay for those services.
That's why stories like this matter even if you never followed the lawsuit or had particularly strong feelings about a 75-cent zoo surcharge.
The bigger issue is how a rapidly growing community pays for the infrastructure and services that growth requires.
That conversation isn't going away.
The Bottom Line
Liberty Township trustees have approved a settlement that could end their yearlong legal dispute with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Under the agreement, the zoo would pay Liberty Township $150,000 initially and another $115,000 annually for five years, potentially totaling $725,000, while Liberty Township continues providing EMS services to the zoo.
The township has also rescinded the resolutions associated with its proposed "Protect and Serve" admission charge.
After a lawsuit, a court ruling, an appeal, a change in Ohio law and state-level involvement, both sides now appear ready to move forward.
And for the residents living around them?
That's probably the most productive outcome: define the responsibilities, determine who's paying for what, and get back to serving the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the Columbus Zoo pay Liberty Township?
Under the settlement reported by Delaware Source, the Columbus Zoo will pay $150,000 shortly after the agreement becomes effective, followed by five annual payments of $115,000 beginning December 31, 2026. If all payments are made, the total is $725,000.
Why did Liberty Township want to charge zoo visitors?
Liberty Township approved a "Protect and Serve" charge intended to help offset the cost of providing fire and EMS services to the Columbus Zoo. The fee was originally $1 and was later reduced to 75 cents.
Why did the Columbus Zoo sue Liberty Township?
The zoo challenged Liberty Township's authority to impose the surcharge and argued that the fee was disproportionate to the emergency services the township provided to the zoo.
Will visitors now have to pay the 75-cent Liberty Township zoo surcharge?
The township trustees rescinded the resolutions associated with the "Protect and Serve" charge. In addition, Ohio lawmakers repealed the state-law provision that had enabled certain townships to impose such a charge.
Will Liberty Township continue providing EMS service to the Columbus Zoo?
Yes, that's part of the settlement arrangement. The zoo's annual $115,000 payments are tied to Liberty Township continuing to provide EMS services.
Can the Columbus Zoo use another EMS provider?
The settlement prevents the zoo from procuring EMS services from another public entity or political subdivision until the required compensation has been paid to Liberty Township. However, the agreement permits the zoo to contract with a private EMS provider.
Will this settlement affect Powell or Liberty Township home values?
There isn't evidence in the source establishing a direct effect on home values. Individual government decisions like this generally aren't enough on their own to determine property values. Buyers and sellers should look at broader factors including location, housing supply and demand, taxes, schools, amenities and property-specific characteristics.
Source
This blog is based on reporting by Taylor Henninger for Delaware Source, published August 11, 2026 and updated August 12, 2026: “Liberty Township trustees approve settlement to end legal dispute with Columbus Zoo.” Delaware Source reported from the settlement agreement as well as statements and previous reporting concerning the dispute.
Read the original Delaware Source article
This blog is provided for general informational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal, tax or financial advice. Real estate market conditions and property values vary by property and location.
