MILFORD, DE -- City leaders are expected to continue discussing the proposed Deep Branch Park at their council meeting on Monday, April 14th. The discussion will include a look at new site plans for the project.
The proposed park sits next to a neighborhood. James Brown, who lives in that neighborhood along the property line, expressed concern for the project.
"One of our major concerns is the driving area coming into the park. Whether the lighting is going to infringe on the property owners that are along that way," Brown said.
Brown also said he and his neighbors have some security concerns.
"The park itself is going to be secluded from the street by a farm area, so the onus is really going to be on the adjacent property owners to look out for the park," Brown said. "There's no way the police can be there 24/7."
Brown told WBOC his biggest concern is being heard by city leaders.
"It's much better than having a housing development or a strip mall or something like that back there," Brown said. "We just want the opportunity to contribute to what's going on because it's going to impact our lives for a long period of time."
Milford Mayor Todd Culotta told WBOC the proposal has received some pushback in the past. City leaders originally acquired the 19.4-acre plot in 2021.
Culotta said they previously attempted to acquire neighboring properties for the project as well, including by eminent domain. However, that case was ultimately dropped.
"The eminent domain thing was kind of a black eye on the city, and I think it's kind of marred this process," Culotta said. "Obviously it did not go over well because it's kind of the heavy hand of government."
Culotta said now, however, because of the changes in acquired land, the proposed park would sit outside of city limits.
"That presents problems in terms of things like logistics and maintenance," Culotta said. "I think it's something we as a council might need to possibly reconsider and see what our options are outside of that."
The mayor said the updated site plans were able to take some community concerns into account. However, Culotta said he has some concerns as well.
"Accessibility to the road is quite tight," Culotta said. "The angle of the site plan of the 700-foot entrance presents a bit of a problem as far as getting back out onto a very busy road. Also, if it's outside the city, theoretically the state police would be responsible for any problem that arises."
Culotta said city leaders may have to reconsider the project's location, but not the idea of providing more green space.
"Anytime a government has the ability to acquire land to make it available to its citizens I think it's a good idea," Culotta said. "It's just about where it goes, who it affects around it, and the method they've used to get there."
City leaders are expected to discuss the project, and its next steps, at Monday evening's council meeting at 6 pm.