by Erin Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers

Anthony Caponi, a retired Macalester professor and chair of the art department at Macalester College, has spent decades trying to preserve his Art Park and Learning Center for future generations.

His wish has finally come true.

The city of Eagan recently acquired 30 of the property's 60 acres for preservation. The Caponi Art Park Board has mortgages with the Caponis for the other 30 acres, and the Caponis have donated a portion of the land worth about $956,000.

Caponi, a sculptor, founded the park 50 years ago in an effort to make art accessible to everyone in a natural setting. The park is dotted with sculptures, and its "Theater in the Woodsî regularly features public concert series and entertainment.

"To me, it's the culmination of my professional life,î Caponi said. "I feel relief not only for myself, but for my wife, Cheryl. We were in this together.î

The park will be managed by the Caponi Art Park Board, which has an operating agreement with the city.

"This has been a vision of Mr. Caponi's for many years, but a vision the city has shared in,î said Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges. "This is the kind of decision that is not only important for Eagan today, but the kind of thing that 20 years or 50 years from now, the community will be enjoying.î

Preservation of the park was spearheaded by Caponi, but it took several different agencies to make it happen. The deal required eight different agreements and easements and five different funding sources, including more than $2.2 million in public financing.

Dakota County gave $850,000, Eagan gave $720,000, DNR grants contributed $500,000 and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) gave $191,000.

TPL essentially acted as the middleman in the transaction. Bob McGillivray, project manager for TPL, said the park is of benefit to the entire Eagan community and greater metro area.

"It's a unique project in the way that it combines natural and artistic features,î he said.

Friends of the Eagan Core Greenway has championed the park as an important part of the Eagan Core Greenway, a two-mile length of open space in central Eagan that Friends is working to preserve.

"We're most pleased,î said Friends member John Ward. "It's been Tony's goal ever since he came home from World War II to set up an art park, and now it's become a reality.î

Caponi said he had to be aggressive to get his land protected.

"I've had to be part engineer, architect, groundskeeper, artist, and a little bit of a politician,î he said. "If I had been less pushy, it wouldn't have happened.î

But he couldn't have done it without the support of the public and the agencies involved, he said.

While the park still needs public support, it will not be a drain on public funds, he said.

"We worked with the city and county, but in no way are we connected to the city parks,î he said. "We are completely independent. We do not rely on tax money.î

Caponi said he is now looking forward to getting back to sculpting, something he has not had much time to do in recent years.

"I want to practice what I teach and produce,î he said. "I'm going to reclaim a little bit of my life.î

He said he is currently seeking volunteers, "someone to contribute some time and learn something in the process. I need some muscles.î

But for now, he is relieved to know that his 60-acre park is here to stay.

"I expect to sleep a little better,î he said.

For more information on the Caponi Art Park and Learning Center, visit www.caponiartpark.org.

Erin Johnson is at eagan.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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