Delaware County residents will face a high-stakes choice this November: whether to allow the county to borrow $120 million for the purchase, preservation and improvement of open space and parkland. The measure has split conservation supporters and real estate interests, with taxpayers and local officials weighing competing priorities.
What the bond would pay for
County Council Vice Chair Christine A. Reuther has said the ballot question would not be limited to land acquisition. Proponents say proceeds could also be used for stormwater infrastructure, trail development, brownfield redevelopment and upgrades to existing parks. That flexibility is part of the council’s pitch to voters who are wary of narrowly targeted spending.
Real estate and homebuilding representatives, however, warn that designating more land for permanent conservation could worsen the county’s shortage of developable property and constrain housing production.
"Delaware County is already one of the most land-constrained counties in Pennsylvania, while at the same time we’re facing a significant housing shortage," said Lauren Adams, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Chester & Delaware Counties.
Housing, taxes and the local market
Officials estimate the county needs roughly 15,000 additional housing units in the next five years. That projected shortfall has gained urgency as median sales prices climbed: the county’s median home sale price reached $420,000 in June, an increase of about 17 percent from three years ago.
Voter sensitivity to new borrowing is heightened by recent property tax increases: county property taxes rose 23 percent in 2025 and another 19 percent in 2026. Critics of the bond argue that locking up more land for conservation could put upward pressure on housing prices and make it harder to build more units where they are needed.
Delco Woods and the question of eminent domain
No single parcel captures the tensions over open space more than the former Don Guanella School site, known as Delco Woods in Marple Township. The county seized the 213-acre property through eminent domain in 2021 and initially paid about $23.85 million.
A Board of View later placed a much higher valuation on the property — roughly $50.5 million plus approximately $1.7 million in accruing interest. The county is appealing that valuation. County officials say the bond question is not contingent on the outcome of the Delco Woods litigation, but bond proceeds could be applied to any remaining balance the county owes or to help fund the estimated $50 million needed to transform the site into parkland and related amenities.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Proposed bond | $120,000,000 |
| Delco Woods acreage | 213 acres |
| Initial county payment for Delco Woods | $23.85 million |
| Board of View valuation | $50.5 million (+ $1.7M interest) |
| Estimated housing need (5 years) | 15,000 units |
Arguments from both sides
Supporters of the bond frame it as an investment in resilience, public health and recreation. They emphasize benefits such as increased flood mitigation through stormwater projects, expanded trails and restored park facilities. Local conservation groups and some residents say preserved open space maintains quality of life and protects natural resources.
Opponents, including many in the real estate and homebuilding sectors, argue that the county already faces a constrained supply of developable land and that additional preservation will exacerbate the housing shortage and affordability challenges. They urge policymakers to pair any land-preservation efforts with policies that enable attainable housing development in appropriate locations.
What voters should know
- The bond would authorize the county to borrow $120 million for land acquisition and related projects.
- Proceeds could be spent on stormwater, trails, brownfield cleanup and park improvements, not solely on buying undeveloped land.
- The Delco Woods litigation remains unresolved and could be affected by bond proceeds, though officials say the referendum is not dependent on that parcel.
Delaware County residents will decide the fate of the proposal at the ballot box in November. The measure pits long-term conservation goals and infrastructure needs against concerns about housing supply and the cost of government borrowing — a debate that will play out in campaign messaging and voter outreach in the coming weeks.
— Simone Alvarez, State Correspondent
