MIRAMAR, Fla.  Another church has stepped in to purchase vacant church property, foiling plans the city had to turn the 2.3-acre site into a community park, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
The Charismatic Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, which had been sharing a church with Epworth United Methodist in Hollywood for the past seven years, paid $835,000 for the property.
The city planned to convert the property into a park with a fitness station, walking path and playground and perhaps use the church building as a recreation center, the newspaper reported.
Broward County had offered $517,000 for the land, using money from a $400 million Safe Parks and Land Preservation bond issue, while Miramar hade offered to bump the total price up to $750,000.
"It's a big disappointment, to be honest," said Lowell Borges, Miramar's community services administrator. "It would have been a good way to have a nice park in east Miramar."
The new owners are still restoring the church, which was vacant for a year and have not moved in yet.
"But we still consider ourselves very blessed," said the Rev. David Simpson. The church has about 140 members and meets at 3 p.m. on Sundays because Epworth UMC had the morning hours.
"I had to compete with Dan Marino, Jay Fielder, the (National Football League's Florida) Marlins and the beach," Simpson said. "Now, we'll just set our alarm clocks and enjoy morning services."
