Adams Township received this image of the property from Paul Kennedy, whose family owned the Wygal land in 1969. The deed for the farm along Hutchman road was passed to Scott and Frances Borland before ending up in the hands of Robert and Jane Wygal in 1972.

ADAMS TWP — Excitement. Relief. Joy.

That's what Adams Township officials felt Friday afternoon after officially closing on the Wygal property.

Township leaders for years have been focused on acquiring the Wygal property to add the 102-acre family farm along Hutchman Road to the township's existing 164-acre community park.

“This is a big piece of the puzzle,” said Gary Peaco, township manager. “It's just tremendous to be able to say, 'We did it.'”

The property most recently belonged to Jane Wygal, who died during talks about how the township could purchase the property. Jane and her husband, Robert Wygal, have held the deed to the property since 1972.

Mary McCurdy acted as executor during the closing Friday. She said she's been involved in the process on Jane's behalf for over a year.

“She was my best friend,” McCurdy said. “She wanted it to be a nature park.”

The transfer totaled $800,000, $425,000 of which was covered through a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant the township secured in 2019.

The property has several buildings standing on it, according to supervisor Chairman Russell Ford. This includes a bank barn, farmhouse, stables and sheds.

Haley Geyer, township parks and recreation director, said these buildings will stay per a historical preservation agreement made during the sale of the property.

It's too early to know how or when the Wygal property will be open to the public.

Ford said the first step — securing the land — needs to be finished before the second can be started.

“Let's finish the process,” Ford said.

Friday's meeting was more than a closing for the property. It brought to a close something that's been discussed for roughly 30 years and vigorously pursued by the township for about the past five.

Several township leaders were involved in the project, including former supervisor Chairman Thomas Franceschina.

Peaco said the acquisition was also something of which former township supervisor Clay Morrow would have been in favor. Morrow, who was elected to the board in 2019, died last year.

There's still work to be done to bring the Wygal property online with the rest of the township park, according to Ford.

But Friday marked an important milestone for the project overall.

“We're going to take a deep breath,” Ford said. “Then we're going to put together an advisory committee.”

“Adams Township leaders officially earned the keys to the Wygal farm Friday afternoon after closing on the property. The land will be added to the township’s existing community park. Several buildings on the property will remain due to an existing historical preservation agreement.”Photo by Samantha Beal.LOC pic for 2/6/21 “Wygal property 1”: “Adams Township leaders officially earned the keys to the Wygal farm Friday afternoon after closing on the property. The land will be added to the township’s existing community park. Several buildings on the property will remain due to an existing historical preservation agreement.” Photo by Samantha Beal.