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Exeter Township School Board approves end of Happy Landings lease; parks access limited to daylight hours
Summary
The board voted to accept return of Happy Landings park from the township, with demolition of vandalized restrooms and removal of a damaged exercise circuit. Basketball and tennis courts remain open; tennis keys require a $5 deposit and a form. A gate will limit access to daylight hours.
The Exeter Township School Board on Feb. 18 approved an agreement to conclude the lease of the Scenic Community Park known as Happy Landings, returning control of the property in St. Lawrence Borough to the school district.
Superintendent Dr. Christy Haller told the board the township has been returning the park to open space and will finish that work this spring, including removing an exercise circuit described as being in disrepair and demolishing restrooms that have been closed because of repeated vandalism. Haller thanked the township and noted Larry Pearsall was present for the meeting.
The nut graf: The board’s action formalizes the end of a long-standing lease and sets short-term rules for public access. Basketball and tennis courts will remain available to the public, but the district will require Exeter Township residents to complete a form and pay a $5 deposit to obtain a key for the tennis courts. A gate will be installed at the parking-lot entrance so access is limited to daylight hours.
Board discussion and vote: Facilities committee chair Dr. Andrea Battler presented the item; the board voted to approve the agreement in a routine motion and second. The motion carried with eight affirmative votes and one absence.
Clarifying details noted during the superintendent’s report included: the town’s work to return the park to open space; demolition of restrooms that have been closed “for a number of years” because of vandalism; removal of an on-site exercise circuit described as in disrepair; continued public use of basketball and tennis courts; a $5 deposit and a form required to obtain a tennis-court key; and installation of a gate to confine access to daylight hours. The district said the form and more information would be posted on the district website and distributed via ParentSquare.
The board did not set a future schedule for additional improvements or specify a maintenance plan for the park in the meeting record. The approved motion and related documents were placed on the public record as part of the facilities consent agenda.
