FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Michelle Reardon

Wednesday, November 22, 2000

302/577-8701

Wilmington, DE - Members of the Brandywine Hundred community and surrounding area are invited to attend an open house to learn more about the Master Plan for the Blue Ball properties project on Monday, November 27th from 6-8pm at the Bellevue Mansion at Bellevue State Park.

Members of the community are being asked to review and comment on the final draft of the Blue Ball Properties Master Plan, a 105-page comprehensive plan for the coordinated development of recreation and transportation improvements for the U.S. Route 202 corridor in Brandywine Hundred. Residents can pick up copies of the draft Master Plan at the open house. They will have until December 18th to edit and comment on the document, and return their responses to Michelle Reardon at the Delaware Economic Development Office, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington, 19801. The comments will be coordinated and a final version of the Master Plan will be available by early 2001.

The Blue Ball Properties Project was created in August 1999 to develop a plan for 152-acres of recently acquired state-owned open space and parkland and develop transportation, transit and commuting improvements for the U.S. Route 202 corridor.

"The Master Plan documents the Blue Ball Properties Project from its creation in August 1999 to this summer," said Mark Chura, Manager for Planning, Preservation & Development, Delaware State Parks. "It does not, however, include specific, new design details on the road segments or park program. Those specifics are still being studied and will be brought to the community at upcoming open houses and public meetings."

New information that will be available on Monday includes general design guidelines for the parkland, including a list of preferred plantings, benches, trash receptacles and lighting for the path system, parking and park accent lighting. In addition, two new bridges to be constructed on U.S. Route 202 will be designed using the same guidelines as the existing Route 141/Rockland Road overpass, utilizing stone and other materials that reflect the desired ambiance of the area.

The Master Plan highlights the work done by the Blue Ball Transportation and Recreation & Historic Preservation Committees from August 1999 to January 2000, and the result of their efforts, the "Concept Plan," which was endorsed by Governor Tom Carper and New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon in March. In addition, the Master Plan includes information on the existing conditions such as geology, vegetation and wild life of the state parkland property, known as the Alapocas Tract or West Park, and the Weldin Tract or East Park.

For the latest graphics on this project, visit www.blueball.net. To order a copy of the Blue Ball Properties Master Plan, contact Michelle Reardon at 577-8701.