Middletown Township officials want to purchase the nearly 81 acres of open space of Sleighton Farms currently owned by Elwyn, writes Kathleen Carey for Daily Times.

Elwyn executives approached township officials last month to inform them they were planning to reduce their geographic footprint and transfer the rest of their property into meaningful development and open space.

During the latest township council meeting, council voted unanimously to approve an agreement in principle to buy the 80.992-acre parcel west of Valley Road along the Middletown and Edgmont lines and extending into Hanson Quarry.

Officials will now get the opinion of township voters in the May 21 election, when the purchase of the property will be placed on the ballot as a referendum.

Sleighton was founded in 1826 as the House of Refuge in Philadelphia. It eventually became a farm school for girls before closing its doors 18 years ago.

“The intended use of the land will be as an extension of Sleighton Park for passive recreation purposes and for preservation in perpetuity,” said township officials.

Read more about Middletown Township’s plans in the Daily Times by clicking here.

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