The court-approved buyer of seven acres of green space in Butler plans to collaborate with public entities and nonprofit organizations to use the land and a building in a wholesome way for children.

Grace Youth and Family Foundation of Butler received approval Tuesday in Common Pleas Court to buy an athletic field along South Monroe Street for $50,000 from the Butler Area School District.

District solicitor Tom King said court approval is required for school districts to sell unused or unnecessary property, and the hearing was required to hear any objections to the proposed sale to the foundation as well as any higher offers.

He submitted evidence that the proposed sale was advertised in newspapers as required by law.

No objections or higher offers were made during the brief hearing, and Judge S. Michael Yeager approved the sale.

“Seven acres of green space within the city, there's a lot of things that can occur,” said Bill Halle, the foundation's CEO and founder.

Halle is also a Butler Area School Board member. He abstained when the board voted Aug. 9 to approve the sale.

District Superintendent Brian White, who attended the hearing, said the field is associated with Butler Middle School, which the district is planning to close, and is no longer needed.

He said there are no deed restrictions for the use or development of the property, but it is located in a flood zone, which probably made it unattractive to developers. The property has an appraisal value of about $30,000, he added.

Halle said he plans to speak with the district, city, nonprofit organizations and neighboring property owners to come up with a plan.

He said he has had some informational discussions with them, and there are a lot of ideas for the property, but he wanted to wait until the sale was approved before moving forward. He said he will make the final plans known to the public.

He said the foundation's goal is to create “another blessing” for the community and a place where local youths can have positive experiences.

The first step will be to raise money to replace the roof on a storage building on the property, he said.