Upper Darby School District and Clifton Heights Borough are ending an 18-month battle, allowing a new middle school to be built at Clifton Field, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.

Thirty to 40 residents, many from the Clifton youth league teams, cheered the agreement.

Back in 1972, a deal was struck giving Upper Darby School District ownership of the borough athletic fields. The borough leases Clifton Field for $1 a year.

But Clifton Heights felt like something was taken away from them in the deal, says Upper Darby School District Superintendent Dan McGarry.

Now the fields are being returned to the borough in exchange for the new school.

 “Today we finally fulfill the promise to the people of Clifton Heights and bring back ownership to our beloved athletic fields to the citizens of Clifton Heights,” said Clifton Heights Mayor Joe Lombardo.

The borough will approve the school district’s revised preliminary land develop plan for the new school.  The school district, in turn, will subdivide the property, with a section for new playing fields being deeded over to the borough.

“Today for me, this is about an opportunity to heal old wounds,” said McGarry.

Read more at the Daily Times about this new agreement for the new middle school.