Upper Macungie Township supervisors unanimously voted on Jan. 3 to accept a bid by Larry Shrawder of Kempton to purchase Independent Park, 150 Independent Road.

Shrawder has owned Stony Run Winery, Kempton, since 2015, he told The Press via telephone Jan. 28.

“We started the vineyards in 2013 and had our first vintage (wine) in 2016,” he added.

Shrawder said he decided to purchase Independent Park because it is a nice property and he was looking for somewhere to hold events and this was the perfect location for a winery and event center.

“We plan to continue to hold weddings, parties, and graduations in the event center, as well as open a tasting room for our winery,” Shrawder stated.

He plans to finish the first floor with floor treatments, window trim and paint.

“I just want to say it is our intention to plant vineyards on the property, which is a 25-year commitment to open space,” Shrawder added. “We are looking forward to being a part of the community and we look forward to meeting everybody at the tasting room.

“We think we will be taking possession of the property sometime after the first of March.”

According to Kal Sostarecz, township secretary, supervisors accepted Shrawder’s bid of $1,526,000, which was slightly more than the advertised minimum bid of $1,500,000.

One other bid was received, but it did not meet the minimum requirements set by the board.

The township has owned the 25-acre property for approximately 10 years, Sostarecz told The Press via telephone Jan. 21.

“The township originally purchased the park for $1.5 million,” he said.

The park is costing the township approximately $56,000 a year to maintain but only receives $23,000 in rental returns, Sostarecz said.

“The agreement of sale is being developed now,” he said. “This is on the front burner.”

Sostarecz said one of the project’s the township is focusing on right now is Grange Park, 360 Grange Road.

The park includes two pavilions, restrooms, concession stand with bathrooms, soccer, lacrosse, football and baseball fields, a modern playground, walking trails, splash park and paved parking lot.

Supervisors’ secretary, Kathy Rader, offered the following comment via email Jan. 22.

“The reason the township bought this property was they were afraid of losing the ball fields on Lone Lane,” Rader said. “These fields were owned by the school and were thought available for the school to build, so when the Schellhamer property came up for sale, they bought it.”

Rader said the township eventually got the Lone Lane land from the school, also.

“The township remodeled the house into a community center,” she stated. “This was a community center, not a rec center and it holds about 100 people and would be suitable for small parties.

Rader said the township tried to find a tenant for the property but couldn’t find anyone, even through a realtor.

“There are two buildings on the property - one was the house and the other a large garage,” Rader stated.

“The garage was built first and the house was built in the ’90s.”