Op-ed: Don't make it easy to sell public parkland

THANKFULLY, state senators left Harrisburg to campaign without repeating the House's mistake of passing House Bill 2224, which would allow local-level officials to sell parks by majority vote. The measure deserves to die with the end of the legislative session and should not be reintroduced.

The House passed this so-called "cash for parks" bill, 197-0. Given its likely negative ramifications, just what could those 197 House members possibly have been thinking?

HB 2224 would short-circuit the existing process for government land sales, which requires approval by county-level Orphan's Courts. Inviting hasty sales of parkland for short-term, one-time gain is shortsighted.

A borough has a budget gap? A township official wants to reward a developer's campaign support? No problem! Sell a park - and lose its recreational, environmental and aesthetic value forever.

The bill originated as a fix for a Chester County issue that's been in court for years. But it's simply not suited for one-size-fits-all application statewide.

Parks are precious jewels, hard-to-replace public amenities. Because HB 2224 would make it too easy for local governments to cynically exploit parks, the Senate must bury it for good.