The Barclay Grounds Preservation Alliance has cause for celebration, as its three years of effort to save West Chester’s Barclay Park from development has finally borne fruit.

The 1.3-acre lot was sold to the Borough of West Chester by its private owner following over two and half years of fundraising efforts to obtain the money needed to complete the purchase.

“We’re all elated,” said John Cottage, head of the alliance which managed to raise $200,000 for the lot’s acquisition.

Back in 2013 the park’s new owner proposed building homes on the property, a plan that did not sit well with many of the nearby residents. As a result, they quickly they rallied to try to save the park. Their efforts did not go unnoticed and started to gain significant support from various sources, including local officials, preservation groups, and ultimately the owner of the land.

With a lot of help from both state and county grants as well as community donations and loans, the supporters of the project gradually accumulated the $1.2 million needed to save the park.

According to West Chester Mayor, Carolyn Comitta, the owner liked the idea of preserving the park, but could not afford to do it on his own. “The partners are deep and wide,” commented Comitta. “This urban heritage site needed to be preserved and we did it.”

Comitta also pointed out that while the Borough did not provide any funds for the project from its own coffers, the Natural Lands Trust and Brandywine Conservancy submitted grant applications through which they won state money for the purchase.

There are no intentions to add any play sets or sports fields to the park, as it will remain a passive public park, said Comitta. “It will get the care and attention it needs, for the space to be a great urban park for everybody to enjoy, forever.”