CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Metroparks' three commissioners voted Thursday morning to enter into a purchase agreement with the West Creek Conservancy that would give the park system control of most of the former Parmadale campus.

Ultimately, that will add nearly 80 acres to the Metroparks' 326-acre West Creek Reservation.

The conservancy already has a purchase agreement with the Cleveland Catholic Diocese to pay $1.75 million for the land, and has secured a $1.5 million Clean Ohio Conservation Program grant.

The park system will provide $250,000 to close the deal.

Derek Schafer, the conservancy's executive director, said Wednesday that the entire Parmadale property totals around 90 acres, and the diocese will retain about 10 acres.

Parmadale opened in 1925 and was one of the first orphanages in the country to institute a cottage residential plan, according to the Cleveland Metroparks.

Most of the residential functions were discontinued in 2014.

Thursday's action is a continuation of a long-standing partnership between the park system and the conservancy.

This is a significant year for both institutions because it is the park system's centennial, and the 20th anniversary of the conservancy's campaign to turn what is now the West Creek Reservation into vibrant, natural park land.

Schafer said control of West Creek was handed over to the Metroparks in 2006.

According to the park board agenda, the Metroparks' $250,000 will either go toward the purchase of Parmadale or restoration of the property.

Schafer said there is an extensive array of buildings and roadway on the grounds and restoration will require "significant structural removal."

The park agenda notes that the land already includes 52 acres that are heavily forested, along with 2,300 linear feet of primary headwater streams.

Schafer said the addition of the Parmadale land to the West Creek Reservation "will create a whole new form of access (to the reservation) for thousands of citizens."

He said that master planning for restoration of the land has not yet begun and the entire process could take nearly two years.

The agenda noted that the conservancy and city of Parma would partner with the Metroparks during the restoration phase.