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NEW ULM -- Upper Cottonwood/Dacotah West subdivision has lost another land option for a neighborhood park, but other space could be available.
The Upper Cottonwood/Dacotah West subdivision has no neighborhood park, though residents have been requesting one for years. The nearest parks with playground equipment are the park behind the former Target and Lincoln Park. These two locations were considered too far for children to walk or bike. For this reason, Upper Cottonwood/Dacotah West is the top prioritized location for a park.
For years the city has been contemplating a neighborhood park in this area and it is recommended in the city's comprehensive plan. A committee is currently updating the city's comprehensive zoning plan and is closely looking at this subdivision.
In July, the commission recommended pursuing the acquisition of three contiguous vacant tax forfeited residential lots in the Dacotah West subdivision to create a small neighborhood park. The lots totaled 1.09 acres. The city planned to use a Department of Natural Resources grant for $119,000. Conditions require the funds to be used to build the neighborhood park before June 30, 2023, or the grant expires
Park and Recreation Director Tom Schmitz informed the commissioners this week that one of the three vacant lots was purchased by an adjoining property owner, leaving two lots totaling less than an acre.
The commission was reluctant to move forward with using the remaining two lots for a park. With all three lots, the park would have been relatively small by New Ulm standards. The commissioners believed a smaller park would not be enough to serve the subdivision’s population.
Commissioner David Christian said the two vacant tax forfeited lots were not a viable option for a park. He described it as a temporary fix.
Schmitz said farmland owned by the Kral family was located in this area. The land is currently in a living trust that includes 171 acres of farmland. The trustee is willing to discuss using this land for development.
The commissioners were willing to consider acquiring some of the Kral lands but were concerned about stepping on the toes of the Comprehensive Planning committee. The Comprehensive Plan Committee is not expected to complete its work until 2023. The commission did not want the plan and Park and Recreation's plan to be in conflict.
Commissioner Leroy Flor and commissioner Christian believed they were better off waiting for the comprehensive plan to be completed before taking action.
The commission ultimately chose to table the issue of using the DNR grant and canceling pursuit on the two remaining tax-forfeited lands.
The commission made a revisit pursuing land acquisition in the Kral trust in the future.