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Mayor calls for sale of park and fire station

Mayor Gabriel J. Campana said for more than two years he’s wanted to see more done at Elm Park.

Now, an impending sales agreement with the Williamsport/Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce may result in those plans coming to fruition.

Campana said he favors the park turned into family-friendly complex for baseball and softball lovers.

“These families spend money at our stores, restaurants and hotels,” he said.

The divestment plan was part of a financial package presented to council, he said.

“It is no surprise to council and was in the three-year financial plan the city finance department presented in January,” Campana said. “The city should not be in the business of running softball tournaments and caring for the fields,” he said.

In that plan, a copy of which was obtained by the Sun-Gazette, Elm Park was to first be appraised by a real estate company.

The appraisal was listed at $90,000, Campana said.

The park, which was carefully taken care of and maintained for more than 40 years by members of the Elm Park Boosters Softball Association, was leased to the association for $1.

The deed restricts the property from becoming anything other than a recreational area, Campana said.

In response, Councilman Randall J. Allison was reached by telephone late Monday.

He said he wouldn’t be able to speak on the topic until it went through the proper channels, through finance and public works committees.

The committees meet at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, respectfully, after the Easter break.

Campana’s divestment of city properties includes the potential auction sale of the former Almond Street fire substation. He said both sales could bring the city up to $300,000.

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