AMHERST, N.Y. — On Monday, the Town of Amherst is holding a public hearing to discuss plans for the Westwood property.
Elected officials are hoping to move forward with a resolution that would alienate parkland, currently known as the Audubon Recreational Complex.
Those in favor told 2 on Your Side, it's the first step in the process for obtaining Westwood to create a Central Park in Amherst.
Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa said it's been a seven-year discussion.
The plans include designating the majority of the Westwood property as a park, developing a sports and wellness facility, and building an indoor field house.
In order to get the ball rolling, town officials need support not only from the community but also the State Senate and Assembly.
Kulpa explained, "We can move forward with this, this spring and hope to see alienation passed through both houses at the end of the spring and hopefully get a governor's signature and leave us in a spot where next year we can actually move forward on some of these projects."
Kulpa told us the town can't afford to hold off on these plans any longer.
He said, "Because there's a demand that's driving an opportunity for us to wrap up by December, an acquisition of Westwood, we have to do that now."
The town board will discuss this on Monday, May 20 at 7 p.m.