Hersheypark is preparing for a major expansion in 2020.

Hershey Entertainment and Resorts presented a land development plan June 5 at the Derry Township Planning Commission meeting for 23 acres on the west side of the park.

The plan calls for reconfiguring the park's entrance gate and drop-off and pick-up areas, creating access roads, demolishing existing buildings and infrastructure, constructing several buildings and making plaza improvements.

It also includes installation of stormwater collection and management facilities, restoration to Spring Creek and construction of a new bridge.

One thing the plan does not include are details about new rides or attractions. It also does not provide details about the buildings.

"We really look forward to sharing those exciting plans at a future date after the approval process," said Garrett Gallia, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts spokesman, after the meeting.

On Tuesday, the planning commission recommended the Derry Township Board of Supervisors approve the plan, pending plan revisions.

The improvements are expected to start in 2019. About 23.5 acres will be disrupted for the project, including more than three acres in a floodway.

The land development plan is largely possible due to a 5,807-foot realignment of Park Boulevard bordering the park. The realignment took away a barrier between the park and the former Parkview Golf Course, which Hershey Entertainment owns.

The expansion will take over a portion of the golf course property.

Hershey Entertainment donated about $9 million worth of land for the realignment project while the remaining $9.7 million came from local, state and federal funds. The golf course, built by Milton Hershey in 1927, closed in 2005.

A portion of the old Park Boulevard will also be removed for the project.

Planning commission chairman Glenn Rowe said the relocation of Park Boulevard gives the park a competitive edge to expand but has created a bit of an island for Hershey residents. He stressed the project increased the walk to events such as concerts and hockey games for those living in town to more than one mile.

"It creates a disconnect and isolation from the downtown community, which is really important Hershey Entertainment and Resorts addresses," Rowe said.

Gallia said Hershey Entertainment understands the concerns and is working to make improvements such as offering season pass holders who live in the town the ability to park at the ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park and use a designated walkway to get to events.

He also said the new plan will reduce the walk by 25 percent to under one mile.

Hersheypark totals about 121 acres, including the 11-acre ZooAmerica. This season, the park added two new water rides, Whitecap Racer and Breakers Edge to the Boardwalk section of the park.

This story was edited to clarify that only Hersheypark season ticket holders who live in Hershey can park at ZooAmerica.