Amherst, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Town of Amherst held a special meeting on Thursday to approve the purchase sale and agreement the former Westwood Country Club. The resolution transfers ownership of the land from the Town of Amherst to Erie County, allowing for its transformation into Willowdale Park.
This will be the first county park in the Town of Amherst.
The resolution was approved by a majority of the Amherst Town Board with Supervisor Brian Kulpa, Councilmember Jacqualine Berger and Councilmember Angela Marinucci voting in support of the PSA.
Under the advice of the Amherst Town Attorney, Deputy Supervisor Shawn Lavin and Councilmember Michael Szukala recused themselves from voting out of an abundance of caution. To achieve quorum, the vote was held in advance of the Sept. 30, 2025 regular board meeting due to the previously notified absence of Councilmember Marinucci caused by an unavoidable conflict.
First announced in April 2025, the Town of Amherst and Erie County agreement provides for shared investment in the 171-acre park. The Town invested $7.75 million to purchase the land and the County is investing $9.1 million in capital allocation to redevelop the park.
The County’s plans include restoring nine holes of the original golf course, reviving trails and walking paths, creating bird watching, waterfowl and wildlife viewing areas, remediation, and preserving passive recreational space. The 8-acre section of the park located at Sheridan Drive and North Forest Road corner will be developed by the town with state and county grant funding to create the accessible playground and year-round outdoor event space, and a restroom facility through a community benefit agreement.
The development of Willowdale will come at no additional cost to the Amherst Town budget. The Erie County Parks Department oversees 10,000 acres on 35 properties. There are 92 full-time staff members who operate the parks and amenities. In 2025, the county invested more than $11 million into the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry
However, the Republican candidate for this November's general election for Amherst Town Supervisor, Dan Gagliardo, has filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court against the Amherst Town Board and Erie County over the sale of the former Westwood Country Club for $1.
The legal action stems from Town Board meetings held Aug. 18 and Sept. 2, 2025, when the town and county agreed to transfer the property, which has been unused for more than a decade, for $1.
“This lawsuit was necessary because the pattern of backroom deals, secrecy, and disregard for taxpayers has gone too far,” Gagliardo said. “The Board is prepared to give away a $7.8 million taxpayer-owned property for just one dollar. That’s not leadership. That’s betrayal.”
The Erie County Legislature has approved nearly $6.9 million for capital improvements and park operations, including construction of the golf course. In addition, New York State awarded $6.9 million for capital improvements and park operations, including construction of the golf course. In addition, the state awarded a $1 million grant for a new playground, which is currently being designed by the town. Under the transfer agreement, responsibility for maintaining the park would shift from the Town of Amherst to Erie County.
Officials with Erie County and the Town of Amherst are set to celebrate the official sale with a groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning.
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