Millcreek residents could have a new community space if a sale goes through between the Zem Zem Shrine Club and the township.

Millcreek officials are looking into purchasing the property on West 38th Street. According to townships leaders, they are in the letter of intent stage of the process and are currently conducting a feasibility study and exploring ideas to best use the property. They says it a prime piece of real estate given its location and due to the fact it's near two busy intersections and bus routes. The township has until May to decide if they want to move forward with the purchase.

Jim Richardson, the past President and current Trustee of the Zem Zem Shrine Club explained their reasoning behind selling,  "Our group has not grown, it has shrunk in size, so expenses are up, and income is down and the building is not the right size for us anymore. We have been able to keep our mission of community in tact. So when we learned that Millcreek Township might be interested in using it as a community center, it fits the usage that we have always tried to use it for." They plan to downsize and move to smaller building, but will still be able to use the larger location if needed.

The township is in the early stages of looking into purchasing the building and land and are open to the community's input about what they want to see in the location.

Dan Ouellet, one of the Millcreek Township Supervisors said,  "We are in a phase right now where we are currently looking at all the possibilities and in the eventually that we do acquire this property that it's something that will fit our purposes and what the public wants."

Some Millcreek residents are on board of having a community spaces that central in the township.  As Jay Pratt explained, "Well currently this Asbury Barn is all we have, there's little things here and there, there are picnic shelters. I think this would really bring people together, there's a huge building that relatively new and maintained and I think with the land there. There's unlimited things we could do."

The township also is looking into expanding Zuck Park and creating more outdoor recreation areas on the grounds. Township officials said because the Zem Zem Shrine Club is such a community staple. They want to continue to incorporate a lot of the values and things the organization is known for as they continue to pursue this idea in the future.

Residents don't have to worry, even with future changes, rental bookings will remain in place.

As Ashley Marsteller, the Director of Parks and Recreation for Millcreek Township explained,  "The Shrine Club is going to continue to operate there through the end of 2026 largely. Their operations are happening for at least another two years and any contracts they have passed that will continue to be honored. That's important to both organizations."