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City will match grant for Eagan core greenwayPosted: 2/14/03 by Erin Johnson The city of Eagan announced it will match a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant to help study the Eagan core greenway. The DNR awarded the city $8,000 in January through its Metro Greenways Program to help study parts of the more than 400 acres of mostly undeveloped land, including the 102-acre Patrick Eagan Park, that make up the core greenway. The Metro Greenways Program aims to help local units of government and citizens more effectively incorporate nature into their communities. In the past four years, the program has awarded nearly $1 million in matching grants to help communities manage and preserve their natural areas. The Eagan City Council recently approved a matching contribution of up to $10,000. ìThis isnít coming out of general operating dollars,î said Council Member Meg Tilley, ìIt comes out of the parks fund and it can only be used for parks.î The council also agreed to contract with the Dakota County Soil and Water District (SWCD) for the study because the SWCD is currently conducting a compatible project. ìThe SWCD is probably a great place for us to go for this so that we use our dollars wisely,î said Council Member Peggy Carlson. ìThey know the area. Theyíve got a head start on it.î The study would help detail the core greenway area, revealing and identifying more specific ìgreenî connections and parcels. The Eagan core greenway recently got attention when it was designated one of the Twin Cities top 10 treasures by the McKnight Foundationís Embrace Open Space campaign, which called Patrick Eagan Park the cityís ìcrown jewel.î The area spans roughly two miles from Patrick Eagan Park through Caponi Art Park to Lebanon Hills Regional Park, and encompasses Patrick McCarthyís land and a series of city parks. Friends of Patrick Eagan Park, a local advocate group, calls the area a contiguous ecosystem and wildlife corridor. The contract between the SWCD and the city for the study will go before the SWCD Board at its March 6 meeting. For more information on the Eagan Core Greenway, visit www.friendsofpatrickeaganpark.org. © Thisweek Newspapers |
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