Plot Of Land Once Pegged For Shopping Center Now Delco's Newest Park
By Jim Melwert
DARBY BOROUGH, Pa. (CBS) -- A 37-plus acre plot of land along Springfield Road that was once pegged for a shopping center, is now Delaware County's newest park.
County officials calling it part of the "largest open-space acquisition by the county" in 50 years.
It's called the Little Flower property for the neighboring Little Flower Manor nursing home, which will stay open and will not be owned or run by the county.
But the 37.5 acres next door, says Delaware County Councilman John McBlain, will become the 16th park in the county system, offering acres of open fields, what McBlain calls a stunning view of the Darby Creek.
"Then you reach Woodburne, the Scott family estate and spectacular mansion built in 1906 and designed by acclaimed architect Horace Traumbauer."
Thomas Scott was President Lincoln's Secretary of War and later president of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The mansion was purchased by Sisters of the Divine Redeemer in the 1930s and was used as an orphanage then a nursing home and finally closed in 2005.
While the buildings on the property need repair, but McBlain says they hope they can open the park to the public this year.
