West Penn Township needs a deed to proceed with turning donated land into a park.

The deed, for 26 acres that will become Atlas Park, should be readied by next month’s supervisors meeting, according to township solicitor Paul Datte.

“I actually have the deed signed but we need to insert a couple of conditions,” Datte said.

The topic arose during Monday’s supervisors meeting, after board Chairman Tony Prudenti said that a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant to aid with the proposed park’s development would expire in December.

It was noted, however, that an extension could be requested.

The parcel is near the former Atlas Powder Co., which became ICI Explosives.

Hazardous wastes and contaminated soils were removed from an area near the parcel years ago, and the state Department of Environmental Protection recently determined that there are no environmental restrictions on the land.

The area is part of the former ICI employees park next to the Little Schuylkill River.

In July 2020, the supervisors accepted an agreement with resident Dennis D’Angelo, who offered to donate the land at Bella Terra Farms LLC to the township.

In 2021, the township received a $242,000 DCNR grant to develop the land to include fields, a multipurpose recreation building and a playground.

Supervisors have said that the proposed park would be four times the size of the township’s Morgan Park.

In other park news, Prudenti said that Zion Park will soon begin accessibility improvements using a Community Development Block Grant.

The project could begin in spring or early summer.