McCandless Council approves 17-acre green space purchase next to Potter Park

McCandless Council approved a combined purchase of 17 acres from property adjacent to Potter Park for $475,000 at its April 28 meeting, creating one of the largest town-owned properties.

Potter Park, off Harmony Road, currently sits at approximately 11 acres but will be expanded with the acquisition of the additional acreage from nearby property owner Janet L. Maier.

“I think this is an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we have to double the size of the park to preserve green space in our town,” said Nicholas Giorgetti, a council member. “It’s something that we heard our residents say a lot of, and it’s something I’m excited that we are finally doing it tonight.”

Jeff Petro, chair of the McCandless Environmental Advisory Committee, said the group studied the acquisition and property and is in favor of additional acreage to expand Potter Park.

The EAC identified 20 town-owned passive recreational properties that include about 192 acres of green space. With the addition of the Maier property, 17 acres of green space will be added to that inventory and will connect to Potter Park, which will give the McCandless 29.04 acres of contiguous green space and the second largest park in the town after Wall Park, per the agenda.

Potter Park has no paved surfaces or facilities and features a pond and two walking trails. It is intentionally kept undeveloped, according to the town’s online description.

McCandless is undergoing a master site plan for its parks, which will analyze existing and future connections, programs and future green space initiatives, according to the April 28 agenda.

In 2024, the town hired Pashek+MTR, a Pittsburgh-based landscape planning firm, to develop the master site plans for the five community parks.

At the conclusion of the study, Pashek+MTR will give recommendations and guidance on how to best utilize this property as a recreation space for residents, according to the meeting discussion.

Council member Joe Wall said McCandless is almost out of land.

“Obtaining this land gives us flexibility over the long haul” and “will positively impact our community positively over the next 100 years,” he said.

Several residents commented on the acquisition, including Kurt Kuntz of Van Drive, who thought it was a good opportunity and feared that if McCandless does not buy the property, it could be purchased by a developer, which he does not support.

However, like other property owners who commented at the meeting, he would like more information.

“I would like to know more of the details. I think it’s a bargain for that much space. If McCandless does nothing, I think it would be a good thing to preserve,” Kuntz said.

Irene Caliendo of Castle Lane said there were too many unanswered questions and not enough sufficient information to the public, including whether the purchase price is fair, use of land or other land available. She thought the council members should table the decision until more is found out and shared with the public.

“I do not know if this is a good or bad idea,” said Caliendo, adding a decision should wait for the results of the community survey currently underway.

Kevin Taffe of Ashbury Lane, which is adjacent to the property, is in favor of adding green space. While noting it may be a good decision, he said he also “would just like more details.”

In response to recent email inquiries on the potential purchase, town Manager John Schwend said the $475,000 would come from the town’s reserve fund and taxes would not have to be raised to purchase the property.

“The purchase is to purchase this blank canvas. We don’t know what we’re going to do there yet,” Schwend said.

The parks and recreation plan currently in place will help determine its purpose, he said.

Schwend liked the idea of getting neighbors involved. Accessibility is an unpaved road. Schwend said town officials are looking into a right-of-way agreement to the park as there is a public road that touches this new land, which touches Potter Park, he said. But this has not yet been determined.

Two public meetings and two public comment opportunities on the potential purchase were held, Solicitor Steve Korbel said.

In her experience as a Realtor, council member Patricia Cloonan said more green space in McCandless could increase property values.

“I really think the timing is right. We need it to move with an expedience to make that happen, and I’m in support of this,” Cloonan said.

Added council member Don Hart: “This is really an easy choice — either a development with a lot of big houses or it’s going to be an open space or a green space. It wasn’t hard.”