Residents stop city’s plan to sell park land

A plan by the city to sell a small parcel of north Derby land that was originally designed for a park has been stopped.

At its March 12 meeting, the City Council approved a recommendation by City Manager Kathy Sexton to rescind the proposal and instead allow her and the staff to undertake terms of a land sale with the Parkside HOA and USD 260.

At issue is 1.77 acres in the Stone Creek Addition known as Reserve S or Winding Lane Park. Last month, the council authorized city staff to seek a sale of that land, which has been undeveloped space since 1999, in order to open it to more housing.

The thinking was that since then, the city’s park thrust has moved from small, neighborhood parks to larger parks, such as High, Central and Warren Riverview.

However, two weeks after the Feb. 12 action, Stone Creek residents let city officials and the council know that many of them opposed the proposal. Representatives of Parkside HOA said they would like to acquire the land.

There have been two meetings with HOA members since then, but Sexton said more time is needed before final action can be reached.