State To Preserve 145 Acres Near White Clay Creek
State To Preserve 145 Acres Near White Clay Creek
Governor Ruth Ann Minner on Thursday announced a plan to add 145 acres to White Clay Creek State Park with the purchase of the Deerfield property on Thompson Station Road near Newark, preserving as open space land that had been targeted for development.
The state will purchase the current Deerfield Golf and Tennis Club from Bracebridge Corporation, a subsidiary of MBNA. MBNA had been approached by developers with proposals to convert the land into a development, but the bank agreed to requests from Gov. Minner to allow the state to preserve the property.
"This property is surrounded on three sides by White Clay Creek park and it would have been a shame to see it developed," Gov. Minner said. "I want to thank MBNA CEO Bruce Hammonds for working with me to save the land in such a pristine area for future generations of Delawareans."
The agreement stipulates that, by September 30, the state will purchase the 145 acres of land for $12 million and all the property of the golf and tennis facility for $1.5 million.
The state intends to add the parcel to the White Clay Creek State Park and preserve the property as permanent open space. The Division of Parks and Recreation will consider options in the months ahead for utilizing the golf and tennis facilities as part of the public park.
"We are very pleased that our discussions with the Governor and her team have been successful and that this premier piece of property will be permanently included in the state's inventory of open space," Hammonds said.
In January, Gov. Minner, knowing that the Deerfield property was being marketed, expressed a hope to Hammonds that it would be kept as open space. At that time, MBNA had the property under contract, but one that eventually fell through, leading to preservation talks between the bank and the state.
"This is a positive move and a good deal for Delaware," Gov. Minner said. "I also thank MBNA executives Lance Weaver and Louis Freeh for helping bring this deal to fruition."
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