Collegedale City Manager Ted Rogers is moving forward with the purchase of approximately eight acres of undeveloped land abutting Veterans Park. Citizens will have the chance to voice their opinions on the $500,000 purchase at the second and final reading of the measure July 6.

“We will take on private debt, financed over 12 to 13 years at a four percent fixed rate at a payment of $50,000 each year, to add that to the Parks and Recreation Department so we will have a lot more greenspace,” Rogers said before the first vote June 15.

According to him, the property is valued at between $1.1 and $1.3 million. Commissioners voted unanimously to purchase the property.

“If we don't get it now it probably won't be around later,” Rogers said.

Due to the property’s “bargain sale” price, its downtown location near City Hall and the other recreation provided by Imagination Station and the library, and the fact that a five-lane Apison Pike will soon cut through what is already a growing town, Rogers said he believes the city should move forward with the purchase.

Vice Mayor Tim Johnson asked about the possibility of securing grants to cover the price.

Although Rogers said he was pursuing the grant which would have allowed the city to purchase the property last year, he did not have high hopes. The city was denied that grant when it applied last year.

The purchase is already included in the now-approved 2009-2010 budget.