The borough is buying a little less than half an acre of property fronting on Reid Street from the Presbyterian Church to expand the adjacent parking area for high school students and staff.

“This acquisition addresses longstanding access and congestion issues at the high school campus,” according to the staff recommendation presented to the borough assembly, which approved the land purchase unanimously on May 27.

The borough will pay $30,000 in cash and provide $30,000 in credits for the church to apply against its utility bills over several years.

The borough will buy 0.466 acres of unused land from the congregation, which will require subdivision of the 1.439-acre lot that extends from Church Street uphill to Reid Street. The church, its house and gazebo occupy the lower two-thirds of the property.

As part of the deal, the borough will clear trees from the property.

After the land is subdivided, the borough plans to build a retaining wall on the downhill slope and expand the high school parking area, Borough Manager Mason Villarma explained.

The parking area might cover half of the purchased property, he said, depending on the site plan. The borough will know later this month how many parking spaces it can fit on the property, Villarma said Monday, June 9.

The retaining wall, leveling and surface work could cost about $400,000, he said, adding that he hopes the new parking spaces could be ready later this year.

“Overall, the agreement reflects a fair and negotiated transaction that enables the borough to meet a critical infrastructure need for Wrangell Public Schools,” according to the staff report to the assembly.