Glasgow Park to see $7.7 million in improvements

• Plan would rehabilitate historic buildings%2C improve farmers market%2C build a petting zoo
• County Executive Tom Gordon says he is investing where money can do the most good.

New Castle County government intends to spend about $7.7 million at Glasgow Park to rehabilitate historic buildings, improve its farmers market and build a petting zoo.

While it may appear to be a lot of money for this purpose and at this time, County Executive Tom Gordon, who also plans to build a state-of-the-art library in New Castle, says he is investing where money can do the most good.

"You try to find someone down there that is critical of it and I would buy you lunch," Gordon said. "We work very hard to save tax dollars, not raise taxes and invest in our parks."

Developers had sought the land that is now the park for commercial development before the county bought the property and its historic buildings for $15 million in 2003.

As part of that acquisition, the county took control of about 20 buildings on a 23-acre plot known as the Hermitage.

"The county has been unsuccessful in dealing with some historic properties," Councilman David Tackett said. "It only makes sense that this is something we do, take care of and shepherd."

The cluster of barns, sheds and one farm house has been unoccupied for decades. The agricultural complex dates back to the 1920s and was originally a dairy farm before 1940 when it was Delaware's second largest hatchery.

"We are trying to preserve what was left like a little village and town center where people can come. You have 120,000 people living there. That is why the park is full all the time. Whatever we are doing there, it is going to be well used," said County Executive Tom Gordon, who oversaw the creation of the park during his first administration.

This year's budget has $3.5 million allocated to the park for the first phase of the improvements, according to County spokesman Antonio Prado.

Several of the historic buildings have fallen into irretrievable disrepair and the majority will be demolished, Tackett said. Phase one of the park improvements will include the demolition of a "handful" of those buildings and restoration of one of the site's large barns.

The phase will also include a road and sidewalk running into the fenced-off site as well as a new parking lot, pavilion and utilities running to a specific outdoor area set aside for the farmer's market that meets weekly during warmer months.

Phase one will also include restoring the facade of the farm house on the property. The inside of the home was gutted and will be left as is, Tackett said.

"When you go back there you are transferred to a different time," Tackett said. "You can almost feel the cows moving around. It is surreal. It gets you away."

Phase one is currently going through the county's land use review process and Tackett expects construction to begin in spring.

Future phases will see more of the historic buildings rehabilitated. The county intends to budget $4.2 million in additional money for the park in the coming two fiscal years, according to Prado.

Tackett said the restored farm buildings can be used to host part of the farmer's market, to host the market in poor weather or as a more general meeting place.

"First of all, they should be preserved," Gordon said. "It can be used as a farmer's market, as a flea market and a place for people to come have meetings. Their use is secondary. There should not be destruction by neglect. We took ownership of them. We should preserve them."

Tackett said once the improvements are made, he intends to gauge interest in expanding the farmer's market availability as well as looking into a petting zoo.

As the county proposed its operating budget for this fiscal year in the spring, some county councilmen urged the administration to pull back on nearly $60 million in capital spending that included improvements to Glasgow, Carousel and Rockwood parks.

Last year, a $123,000 dog park opened at the park. The park also hosts nearly 3 miles of walking trails, a skate park, basketball and tennis courts and a playground area.

"People enjoy it. It looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell picture with people out there," Gordon said.

Contact Staff Writer Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com.