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RELEVANT LINKS: Land that is held in trust is designated for a particular use.A common example is when land is given or dedicated to a city for park purposes. Generally, a city that holds park land in trust must use it for park purposes. If the city uses it for some other purpose,the previous owner can pursue a court action to regain ownership of the land or prohibit the city from using it for a different purpose. Minn.Stat.§505.01. Under Minnesota law, land that has been donated to the public on a plat that is recorded must be held in trust for its intended purpose. Larson v.Sando,508 N.W.2d Dedication occurs when a private party transfers land to a government entity 782(Minn.App.1993). for a particular purpose. Once land is formally dedicated with a condition, the government does not own the land in fee simple with the right to sell it. Headley v.City of Northfield, The general rule regarding dedications of land for park purposes is that the 35 N.W.2d 606(Minn.1949). Kronschnabel v.City of St. city holds the property in trust for the public and has no power to divert the Paul, 137 N.W.2d 200(Minn. land from the uses and purposes of the original dedication. 1965).Buck v.City of Winona,135 N.W.2d 190 (Minn.1965). In re Everett's Trust, 116 Neighboring property owners can also pursue court action to prohibit a city N.W.2a 601(Minn.1962). from using land for purposes other than those for which it was dedicated. In a 1962 decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court found that abutting property owners own appurtenant rights and have a right to enforce public uses of land dedicated to a specific public use. Buck v.City of Winona, 135 The Supreme Court also found that taxpayers have standing to object to a N.W.2d 190(Minn.1965). city's attempt to relinquish an easement for park purposes. In this case, however,the city had failed to comply with the requirements of its city charter. City ofzumbrota v.Strafford In a more recent decision,the Minnesota Supreme Court looked at a similar Western Emigration Co.,290 N.W.2d 621(Minn.1980). situation. In this instance, a city tried to sell dedicated land that it held in trust to a developer to build a senior citizen residence,but the land was dedicated for use as a public square. The abutting homeowners sought to stop the sale to the developer, claiming the development would make it impossible to maintain the public square and also result in the general public being excluded from the land. The court found the city could not sell land that it held in trust because the city had only such use of the property as was needed to fulfill the property's use as a public square. A.G.Op.59-a-40(June.15, The Attorney General has repeatedly found that cities that hold land in trust 1950).A.G.Op.59-a-40 (Nov.8,1955).A.G.op.59- that was dedicated for park purposes may not use the land for other purposes a-40(Dec.16,1947).A.G. or sell the land. Op.59-b-11 (Nov.20,1957). A.G.Op.469-a-I5(Jul.30, 1945).A.G.Op.469-a-15 (Nov.18,1948). League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 1/22/2015 Purchase and Sale of Real Property Page 18