PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Many Delaware County residents are thrilled over the county's plans for turning a large piece of land that's been in limbo for years into a park that covers about one-third of a square mile.
The Delaware County Council has taken initial steps to acquire the former Don Guanella School in Marple Township, with plans to turn the 213 acres of space into a public park.
The Marple Township Board of Commissioners twice rejected housing and retail development plans for the site in the last few months.
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“We are enormously pleased that we will be able to secure one of the last large tracts of open space in densely populated eastern Delaware County for use as a public park,” said Delaware County Council Chairman Brian Zidek in a statement.
Council members say this move would have both economic and environmental benefits.
If there were upset residents in the county, they did not show up to a Council public meeting where people shared vehement positive feedback.
“What you’re doing with Don Guanella, I never thought would ever happen. You’ve made me the happiest person in the world," said one resident.
"What you are doing today has so much support," added another.
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Delaware County says that 14,000 people live within one mile of the space, and 53,000 residents live within two miles of it.
The county hopes to get the space through eminent domain. There are more steps to take, but if everything falls into place, the space could become county property sometime next month.