Springfield Township: Trustees buy 5 acres to add to parkland

7/7/2004

Springfield Township trustees have agreed to buy slightly more than 5 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to a recently acquired parcel that was added to Community Homecoming Park.

The new purchase abuts the southwest portion of the park and will be added to it, said township administrator Bob Anderson. It will bring the total parkland at the site, south of Angola Road and west of Wentworth Street, to about 75 acres.

The 5-acre parcel was purchased from Florence Delaney for $35,500. In essence, the acreage is an extension of her property, which fronts on Airport Highway. The original 40 acres of the park is used primarily for active recreation with baseball diamonds and soccer fields, although there is an area at the southern end near a pond for picnics and relaxation.

The new 5 acres, like the 30 acres purchased last year, will be left in a natural state for passive recreation, Mr. Anderson said.

He said the price of the 5 acres was about the same per-acre as the 30 acres the township bought last year from a subsidiary of the Bostleman Corp. for $200,000.

He said the 5 acres already gets some use, noting trails made through underbrush.

He said he saw evidence of the land being used by hunters, and the township will put up signs prohibiting hunting.

The township may develop walking trails for both acquisitions, but there are no plans to use them for athletic fields.