The City of Chesterfield has been allocated 15 acres of land immediately adjacent to and west of Railroad Park in Chesterfield Valley.

Scott Harding, President & CEO of SCI Engineering Inc., donated the 15.92-acre plot at 190 Long Road. He just demands that the city pay the expense of an appraisal and tax papers.

The property is covered by a conservation easement and was used as a wetland mitigation area for past development. Use of the property is highly restricted; nonetheless, it does permit for contiguous access from the west.

The development of Railroad Park was considered by the Parks, Recreation, and Arts Committee, even though there are problems, including regulatory impediments, water, sewer, parking, and grading.

Currently, Railroad Park is mainly a passive park but is used for ultimate frisbee, said City Administrator Mike Geisel.

“The addition of the acreage provides some potential enhanced opportunities for access, but in reality, the acquisition of this property only expands the acreage as it is currently used,” he said.

At the February 20 meeting, the City Council authorized a budget adjustment of $5,000 from the parks fund reserve for the appraisal and other charges.

City staff was also asked to update the 2019 Railroad Park bridge access feasibility assessment with the integration of the extra parcel.