Friends of Historic Glasgow (Delaware)

Glasgow park gets under way (9/14/03)

News Journal editorial on LaGrange

Glasgow park gets under way
Monday groundbreaking will kick off construction

By MICHELE BESSO
Bear Bureau reporter
09/14/2003

New Castle County will break ground Monday on a nearly 300-acre regional park at the northeast corner of U.S. 40 and Del. 896.

County officials, civic leaders and residents will participate in an official groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. at Glasgow Regional Park. Located in one of the fastest growing areas of the state, the former farm was purchased by the county for $15 million in one of its largest parkland acquisitions, county spokesman Tom Hubbard said in a news release.

"This is something the community has been waiting for," said Susan Amadio, spokeswoman for the county Department of Special Services. "It really is going to be a very unique regional park because of its size and the various amenities that are being planned. It's state of the art."

The new park's master plan is based on residents' input taken at a series of community meetings.

The park will include interactive water features, a family picnic area, adventure playground and play sculptures, an amphitheater for outdoor entertainment, a walking/hiking/jogging trail, community commons and multi-use green space, Hubbard said. The landscape architectural firm of Wallace, Roberts and Todd developed the plan.

The park may open within a year to 18 months, Amadio said. Construction will be done in phases. The walking trail will be first, to be completed in a few months.

The county is still negotiating to purchase the Barczewski farm, an additional 235 acres near the park across Del. 896 and north of U.S. 40., Amadio said.

County Councilwoman Karen Venezky has said she hoped the farmland, which is home to some historic buildings, could be preserved as open space, perhaps as an add-on to the planned regional park. Council earmarked about $6 million in its capital budget to pay for the property.

The Barczewski family has not decided whether to sell to the county or to sell it to a developer for more money, Amadio said.

"We would really like to acquire that property, but with the respect to the difference in the purchase price, we just can't justify going as high as they're asking," Amadio said. "There is a $10 million difference between our appraisal and their asking price."

David Ferry, an attorney for some family members, could not be reached for comment Friday.

The Barczewski property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and dates to the 1700s. The property contains a main house known as "La Grange" that dates to the 1800s, a small cottage and several smaller buildings.

Reach Michele Besso at (302) 838-3187 or mbesso@delawareonline.com.

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Glasgow park gets under way