(6/15) After presenting a funding request to the county in May, the Town will receive $227,123 in acquisition funds which will support the purchase of the 11.6-acre parcel of land behind the Walkersville Bowling Alley. The plot runs between Glade Creek and the Walkersville Southern Railroad, stopping short of Community Park.
In March, commissioners discussed the potential purchase of the property in more depth, after continued interest was expressed by town residents to staff and council members. Although the land is highly desirable for businesses, with the town office receiving weekly inquiries earlier in the year, its nature as a floodplain makes it difficult to construct upon. Instead, the town hopes to purchase and maintain the land as an open recreational area under the state’s Project Open Space. If acquired, the land may be utilized for an extension of the Frederick and Pennsylvania Line Railroad Trail from Fountain Rock Park to Woodsboro, minimizing the challenges of constructing a path through the central town area. It was also suggested that the land could be used for MS4 (stormwater management) work.
Originally listed at $295,000, the property was appraised closer to $250,000 according to Commissioner Brodie-Ennis. Two independent appraisals of the property were conducted under the town’s budget prior to requesting county funding. Although the town sought $271,800 from the county, Middletown also requested acquisition funds in the amount of $97,000. Due to the limited amount of acquisition funds available ($324,123 total) and Middletown’s smaller request, Burgess Chad Weddle opted to reduce Walkersville’s acquisition request by $44,000 so that Middletown could meet its own financial needs.
The remaining $44,000 will likely be paid for by the Town, although it is yet unclear where those funds will come from, or if they will be accounted for in the current budget for the fiscal year running between 2023 and 2024. Before any of these decisions are made, however, the Town Council will have to vote to approve municipal coverage of remaining costs. This concern, as well as additional questions regarding possible zoning changes and payment plans, will be discussed at upcoming meetings. In addition, Burgess Weddle and several commissioners plan to meet with the current property owner to discuss the purchase and potential of the land.
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