Freeland YMCA Letter of Intent – Freeland Public Park

📢 Discussion on YMCA Letter of Intent – Freeland Borough Park

There has been a lot of discussion online and in the community about the YMCA’s Letter of Intent (LINK TO DOCUMENT) involving a portion of Freeland Borough Park. We want to set the record straight with the facts, and also encourage residents to bring their questions and perspectives to our public meetings, where community input is an important part of the decision-making process:

1️⃣ Timeline & What Happened at the Meeting

• On August 21, 2025, the Borough received a Letter of Intent from the Greater Wyoming Valley YMCA.
• The letter requested to purchase approximately 0.69 acres of the Borough park (Front & Sabol Streets) for a nominal price of $1.
• The matter was on the agenda for discussion at the work session and council meeting that evening.
• Before Council could discuss or vote, the Solicitor advised that an independent appraisal of the land must first be completed.
• As a result, no vote was taken and no decision has been made on whether to move forward.

2️⃣ What the YMCA Proposed in Writing (LOI)

• A non-binding letter of intent requesting purchase of ~0.69 acres (image shows proposed tract).
• A proposed purchase price of $1.00.
• YMCA would assume costs for subdivision, legal, and transfer expenses.
• YMCA stated its intent is to expand childcare and youth development programs and revitalize the Freeland YMCA facility, citing over $1.1 million in grants and donations recently invested into the Freeland branch.

3️⃣ What Was Not on the Table August 21

• Council was not voting to sell the land for $1 that night.
• The only possible vote would have been whether to express interest in moving forward with the process or to decline outright.
• Based on the Solicitor’s direction (appraisal first), Council could not and did not act on the YMCA’s request.

4️⃣ Legal Protections

• Our Solicitor reviews these matters to ensure full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

5️⃣ Next Steps

• The Borough will first discuss obtaining an independent appraisal to determine the fair market value of the land.
• No land can be sold or transferred without legal review.

✅ Bottom Line:
The YMCA submitted a non-binding request to buy a portion of the park for $1. Borough Council has not approved any sale. Borough Council has not made a decision to move forward with the process. This matter will be discussed at our next Work Session on September 18th at 5:00 PM.

📣 We encourage all residents to attend, ask questions, and share input on this and all Borough matters.