I have recently fielded many questions from residents about the plan to convert the former Westwood Country Club into an Erie County Park. As many will recall, the Westwood property has been the subject of much speculation and negotiation since it was purchased by a development group in 2012. In my view, the transfer of the property to Erie County and its transformation into Willowdale Park is a win-win for residents and the Town of Amherst alike, preserving the area as green space that is accessible to everyone in our community.

The recent history of the property is one of great promise but little progress. After the Westwood Country Club ceased operations, efforts to operate the facility as a private golf club were found to be not feasible. The property was purchased by the Mensch Group, which sought to develop the property for mixed commercial and residential use. Nearby residents balked at the idea of a dense development in their neighborhood, and a previous Town administration proposed a complicated land swap which involved selling acreage from the Audubon golf course, buying the Glen Oaks golf course for use as a municipal course and purchasing Westwood for development as a park. Needless to say, the proposal did not succeed. When Brian Kulpa became Supervisor in 2018, he pledged that the town would “Keep Westwood Green” in keeping with the wishes of the majority of residents. Thereafter, public meetings were conducted to determine what residents wanted from an “Amherst Central Park,” and negotiations commenced with the Mensch Group to find a way forward for the project. It was during that time that the notorious chain link fence went up surrounding the parcel, creating an eyesore and reminding us all that keeping Westwood green and accessible to the community was not going to be easy or quick. After much negotiation with Mensch and several different proposals that all fell through for a variety of reasons, it became clear to Town leaders that the best way to advance the park project would be for Amherst to purchase the parcel outright. To that end, in 2023, the Town of Amherst purchased the property for $7.5 million with the intent of converting it to parkland.

Having purchased the property for the public benefit, the Town was then faced with the cost of remediating the site, transforming it into a park, and maintaining it for years to come. We’ve all dealt with inflation in our own household budgets and seen construction costs increase dramatically since 2012. Those of us in government acknowledge the challenge of providing important services while keeping taxes reasonable. These practical realities led the Town to seek a partnership with Erie County, which has the resources to turn the land into a multifunctional park and can undertake this large-scale project more efficiently. Securing the County’s commitment by transferring the property for $1 relieves Amherst taxpayers of the significant future investment necessary to transform and maintain the land as a park, while guaranteeing that it will remain open to Amherst residents for generations to come.

Willowdale Park will benefit Amherst and county residents by providing an outdoor space offering four-season, wooded hiking trails and a restored 9-hole golf course. I also helped secure $1 million in state funding to construct a state-of-the-art inclusive playground for children of all abilities to enjoy. These revitalization efforts will boost community engagement and increase our overall quality of life, allowing all residents to access these pastoral settings and updated amenities. I am proud to support the Erie County purchase of the soon-to-be Willowdale Park and look forward to seeing the new developments. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at mcmahonk@nyassembly.gov or 716-634-1895.