Nevertheless, it’s a bit nerve-wracking to think the town of Knightdale might be pursuing the purchase of a large tract of land near downtown for a town park.

Mayor Russell Killen correctly points out that once land is developed it’s not really available for use as park space.

And, as towns in eastern Wake County become small cities, the availability of raw land for use as open space will surely dwindle. Knightdale’s town leadership has always been willing to step out further on a ledge than their brethren to the east, but in this case, they might fall off.

Now, granted, Killen is playing the deal close to the vest. He suggests that the town could get the land for very little money. The owner of the land, Billy Wilder, is as civic-minded as they come. Still, it’s unlikely Wilder would simply donate the land with no financial considerations attached.

And in today’s economy, buying anything that isn’t really needed is worthy of second thoughts.

Killen’s argument that the land might be put to other uses ignores the fact that everyone is in a recession right now. Very little development is taking place, except for some projects that were in the pipeline before the economy tanked last fall.

If the town wants to preserve open space in the middle of town, it would do well to negotiate an agreement with Wilder only under terms that delay the deal until such time as the economy rights itself.

Towns throughout North Carolina are waiting on pins and needles to see how the state addresses its own budget needs.

Municipal leaders are fearful that funds which normally funnel down to the towns and counties will be taken away.

If that happens, Knightdale will be in a position of having to pull the reins in even tighter on its spending plans for the next year. While they are to be commended for thinking long-term, Knightdale town leaders should put plans to buy land in mothballs for the time-being.

It just doesn’t make good financial sense right now.