ADAMS TWP — Decades of planning for a new park were rewarded last week when Adams Township won a $425,000 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant.

For about 30 years, the township has discussed purchasing 103 acres of the Wygal family property along Hutchman Road near the public works building. It plans to transform the land into a park.

Outgoing Supervisor Chairman Thomas Franceschina has been involved with bringing the park to fruition for years.

He said he's pleased the township won the DCNR grant before he retires from the board this month.

“(I'm) just so happy it went through,” Franceschina said.

The park will act as an environmental space. While it will likely have pavilions, the township is looking to keep it mostly natural and open.

It will border the current Adams Township Community Park and bring the township's total park space to about 250 acres.

“It will provide so much open space,” Franceschina said.

The township was able to apply for a grant that covered up to 50 percent of the project's cost, Franceschina said.

The sale price of the Wygal property was $800,000. The additional $25,000 in the grant will cover 50 percent of solicitor fees, costs associated with engineering studies and other incidentals.

Haley Geyer, Parks and Recreation director, was instrumental in obtaining the DCNR grant, Franceschina said.

Geyer gathered information and submitted the township's application to DCNR earlier this year.

Supervisors approved a letter of commitment to purchase the Wygal property this spring.

Franceschina expects the closing of the sale is still a few months away. But the township is closer to purchasing the property than it's ever been before.

“It's just going to provide so much,” Franceschina said.