Amherst, N.Y. (WBEN) - Erie County and the Town of Amherst are moving forward with the planned re-development of the former Westwood Country Club after approving an inter-municipal agreement for the project at a Town Board meeting Monday night.
The town is set to transfer the property, which has sat unused for the past 12 years, to Erie County at the cost of just $1, if approved after a public comment. That doesn't mean the deal is signed and sealed yet though.
"We have to hold a public hearing on the matter, and we have to decide whether or not the Town is going to enter into a partnership... with the county," said Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa with WBEN on Tuesday. "We look at this as a win-win because we have accessible space to all residents of the town, but we have the county coming in and doing all the capital."
A statement from the Town of Amherst said construction work on the new Willowdale Park, which will include a restored golf course, trails, and land for "passive" use is set to begin immediately.
How can that happen if the land transfer isn't complete?
"We're already working under a county grant," Kulpa said. "The county already was investing multiple millions of dollars into this park. Even if the town still owned it we were going to get some money from the county."
The County Legislature had already approved $6.89 million for capital and park operations including construction of the golf course, and New York State provided a $1 million grant for a playground currently being designed by the town. The transfer of land would make maintenance of the park a county responsibility instead of the Town of Amherst.
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Amherst residents had the chance to speak out about the sale and redevelopment before it was approved. You can watch that meeting here: