June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
An open letter to the residents of Kego Twp.
To the Editor,
Bryant Park in New York City is a model for such a public/private partnership. Bryant Park has been a park since the 1880s but, by the 1980s it had become a neglected, underfunded park that had a lot of issues, including a high crime rate. A group formed that started the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation. They entered into an agreement with the City of New York to restore and manage the park with private funding. Bryant Park is now a premier attraction for the city. It costs the City of New York nothing.
The LACP Committee was formed with the goal of building a new park for the greater Longville Community. We have found a parcel of property which will fulfill the requirements the committee established for a park-large enough to hold the amenities we believe a park should have and still have room for future development and close to the center of the business district. This property is a parcel located behind (east) of the liquor store and funeral home on Pond Lane near the YAH Club. It is approximately 14 acres within the city limits, heavily wooded, with a very diverse terrain. It may not be "perfect" but it is a beautiful piece of property and a very good location.[[In-content Ad]]
Since forming, the LACP Committee has established three goals for this year:
1. Acquire the property.
2. Form (or partner with) a non-profit development and management corporation. A subcommittee is working on this.
3. And perform a site survey which, if we acquire the property, will be completed this fall and winter.
It was initially hoped that acquisition and ownership would be in the form of a "Joint Powers," formed by a group of local units (Townships and City) of government. For various reasons it does not appear that this will happen. This brings me to the point of this letter.
The Board of Supervisors of Kego Township has been supportive of the efforts of the LACP Committee. At the August 7th monthly meeting of the Town Board they agreed to take the issue to the residents of the Township and called for a Special Meeting of the Township. Establishment of a park is one of the things that a township is allowed to do by State Statute and requires a vote of the residents of a township. The residents of the township will be asked to allow the Board to expend up to the county estimated value of the property from invested cash reserves to purchase the property. The remainder of the purchase price will be paid through donations and contributions. The park property will be owned by the township. This will not raise your property taxes. The money will come from Certificates of Deposits that the township has built up over many years.
As Chair of the LACP Committee I am asking the residents of Kego Township to attend the Special Meeting August 28th at 5:30 p.m. in the Longville Fire Hall and consider the question. Then vote. Townships in Minnesota are the truest form of Democracy we have, take this opportunity to exercise your rights and your responsibilities.
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