Lawmakers considering new parkland bills
“State lawmakers are considering separate bills that would address government’s use of eminent domain to purchase land for parks.
That’s good news to Sandi Johnson, a resident of Pleasant Grove Township who is concerned about Olmsted County’s recent plan to use an official mapping process to obtain land to expand the Root River Regional Park and Recreational Area.
Johnson and her husband Chris, along with many other residents of Pleasant Grove Township, are concerned that Olmsted County officials want to expand Root River Park from its current 125 acres to a much larger site. Toward that end, county leaders have drawn an Official Map that includes more than 500 acres of area residents’ private lands that may one day be included as part of a larger park. The county’s Planning and Parks Commission has already expressed interest in 77 acres owned by the Johnson family, 80 acres owned by the Paulson family and 14 acres owned by the Harris family, Sandi Johnson has said.”
Peterson, Mark. Stewartville Star 10 March 2014.