PRSR 06-08-2005 INFORMATION #2INFORMATION
LAKEVILLE ~ ~Z
Suburb creating a new park
`Green' investment includes 12 acres
BY NANCY NGO
Pioneer Press
"Add one more to the list of
Lakeville parks.
Lakeville is in the process of
purchasing 12.2 acres that would
become part of the city's nexrt
large recreational gathering
spot The land acquisition, which
could be finalized at the end of
this month, would be added to 40
acres of farmland adjacent to the
property that the aty purchased
a few years ago to build East
Lake Community Park
The creation of the park,
which surrounds East Lake, is
outlined in the city's compre-
hensiveplan.
"We wanted to identify the
needs of this fast-growing area
That area was identified as a
community park," said Steve
Michaud, Lakeville parks and
recreation director. Being on
the lake, there will be access to
fishing and maybe some limited
boating. There are opportuni-
ties for large picnics and field
games."
Michaud said the city would
offer a disc golf course, volley-
ball courts and playgrounds.
The aty also hopes to develop a
greenway connecting to paths in
neighboring Apple Valley.
This last chunk of land need-
ed for the park is part of the
Brandtjen Farm development
Dakota County has already
agreed to pay for half, or
$690,000, to acquire the property.
The city could purchase the
land from the developer as early
as this month.
The land is funded partly by
the county's Farmland and Nat-
ural Area Program The Brandt=
jen Farm land, which includes
oak savannah, would be main-
tamed as a natural preserve.
`7t was really the only high-.
quality forest that's in this pail
of Lakeville," said Al Singer,
project manager for Dakota
County. "The only development
that will be taking place there is
some passive hiking trails, some:
benches."
In addition to a natural pre-
serve, most of the remaining 40
acres of farmland will be used
foi recreation.
The new park could open as
early as next yeas The city is.
leasing. the farmland while it
works out details of construct-
ing the park.
"Incrementally, we've been
slowly building this," Michaud
said.
There are 72 city-run parks;
conservation areas and green=
ways in Lakeville. About 50 of
those are recreational parks.
N¢ncy Ngo can 6e re¢ched ¢t
nngo@pioneerpress. com or
651-228-5172.