By Jay Shenai
Consider it a $1.2 million Christmas gift months ahead of schedule but one that will take several years to fully enjoy.
In a letter dated Oct. 7, Silverton city officials received a stunning proposition from Larry Epping, owner of Granada Land Co. and a Salem-area real estate developer, about 40 acres of his property on Ike Mooney Road.
“I am asking you if the City of Silverton would be interested in receiving this parcel of land as a donation for park purposes,” he asks.
For several months, Silverton city officials had been working with Epping to purchase the lot on Ike Mooney Road, identified in Silverton’s master land-use plan as a prime location for a nature and recreation park.
Up until October, however, negotiations had stalled over the asking price of $28,000 per acre.
So news of the donation came as quite a shock.
“[It’s] one of those things you don’t expect,” said Bryan Cosgrove, Silverton City Manager, “a very pleasant surprise.”
In a letter to Epping, Cosgrove wrote, “Mr. Epping, this is a most generous and selfless donation on your part. I want you to know, on a personal level, how much I appreciate your generosity. This donation of land will benefit Silverton residents for generations to come.”
Silverton City Councilor Judy Schmidt was ecstatic upon hearing the news.
“Absolutely thrilled,” Schmidt said. “It’s a very generous gift, and a very generous collaboration.”
The Silverton City Council is now tasked with finalizing the details of acquiring the property by Dec. 15, per Epping’s request.
When complete, the park will offer picnic shelters, playgrounds, athletic fields and sport courts, Cosgrove said.
It will also have hiking trails and natural areas, Schmidt said. Having the park will benefit an area of town that is growing, she said.
“We need to have those spaces mixed in,” Schmidt said, “kids need a place to play, and people need a place to relax and enjoy nature.”
“I personally think you need to have those spaces for the beauty and enjoyment of the community,” she added.
As part of the agreement set forth by Epping, 2.94 acres of the parcel will be allocated to the Silverton Fire District for a new fire station, something Epping also has been working to accomplish for a couple of years.
Building a station on the parcel will greatly assist firefighters in serving the community, especially in the neighboring rural areas, said Bill Miles, the district’s fire chief.
“We try to have a 5-mile travel distance, maximum, from the station to a house or property” needing assistance, Miles said.
However, it will be likely several years before the park and fire station plans are turned into reality.
Especially in the current economic downturn, funds are tight. Preliminary estimates put the cost of the park alone at between $5 and $8 million dollars.
“It’s not going to be an inexpensive venture,” Cosgrove said.
Silverton Fire District is also currently paying on a previous bond measure for another five years, Miles said, and will likely have to “bank” the land donation for some time.
Nevertheless, Schmidt and others are excited about the donation.
“It’s one step closer to realizing the development of a park in that area,” Schmidt said.
Epping would not discuss why he chose to give rather than sell the land. But despite the delay, he stands by his decision to donate the land.
“It’s a good cause for the city,” he said. “That big a park, that’s quite an accomplishment.”
