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<br /> <br />Item 6.6. <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: Mayor and City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Bill Maertz, Director of Parks and Recreation <br /> <br />DATE: August I, 2005 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Staff Update <br /> <br />DNR Land Acquisition Grant Award <br />In 2004, staff applied for three grants to help with the purchase of 80 acres of land <br />adjacent to Woodland Trails Park. The land is owned by Tiller Corporation, but the city <br />has an agreement that allows us to use portions of the land for recreation. The Parks and <br />Recreation Commission have made acquisition and preservation of this property a high <br />priority. The Natural Resources Inventory, completed in 2005, identifies this parcel as <br />one of the highest quality woodlands remaining in Elk River. <br /> <br />The land is valued at 1.7 million dollars. Staff applied for $400,000 Natural and Scenic <br />Areas Grant, $300,000 Greenways Grant and a $500,000 Remediation Grant. On July 14 <br />we were notified that we have been awarded the $400,000 Natural and Scenic Areas <br />Grant. One week later staff was notified that Elk Rivers other two grant applications were <br />highly ranked, and had a high potential for award. The total potential award is $1.2 <br />million. This would require a City match of $500,000 from park dedication funds. The <br />City's share would be less then 30 percent of the total purchase price. <br /> <br />DNR Conservation Partners Grant Award <br />Elk River has applied for, and been awarded, a Conservation Partners Grant by the DNR. <br />This $6,000 grant is for restoration of 6.3 acres of prairie and woodland in Highlands <br />East Park (Hillside Estates Subdivision) <br /> <br />Woodland Trails and Ditch 31 <br />In 2004, ditch 31 repairs resulted in the draining of a DNR protected wetland in <br />Woodland Trails Park. Regulations require the city to restore the wetland or to replace it <br />elsewhere. After examining many options, staff has concluded that the best way to restore <br />the wetland is to install a sanitary grade, drainpipe in the ditch adjacent to the wetland. <br />This will allow the ditch to function, without draining the wetland. <br /> <br />Staff will be seeking authorization from the county board, in August, to modify the ditch. <br />If authorization is obtained, cost estimates will be prepared and plans will be brought to <br />