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1 <br />FRI OS:33 AM Me I sh <br />JUN-10-1933 17:04 UlLt€R FK'I EXEC OFFICE <br />€■ 1 24725^.63 P. ©2 <br />612 642 2050 P.02^©2 <br />To the editor: <br />The City of Orono received some good news for its residents last week. For the second <br />time; Orono won a grant to preserve open space. The city was awarded $75,000 by the <br />Department of Natural Resources through its Natural and Scenic Areas grant program. <br />The grant requires these funds to be matched by local money, a task, that the Saga Hill <br />Preservation Society has taken on. <br />This is the third and perhaps final stage in a project that has been a good example of <br />public/privale cooperation. The City of Orono has three times listened to and cooperated <br />with citizens who wish to preserve open space in the crowded western side of Orono. <br />The city’s first cooperative gesture was to acquire 9 plus acres from Hennepin County. <br />This will become a sorely needed active park, where children can play. This future <br />playground and ballficld will serve the scores of children living in Orono and across the <br />street in Minnetrista. <br />Since then, the City has twice applied for DNR funds to ocquixe land that will be <br />protected as open space in perpetuity. The first acquisition brought 14 acres of woods <br />and meadow to the public. Now, 8 more wooded acres will be acquired, presers'cd for <br />wildlife and passive pursuits. <br />The Saga Hill Preservation Society has been working productively with the city for more <br />tlian tluce years. At all times, council members and staff have been cooperative, open <br />and enthusiastic. Mayor Gabriel Jabbour and council member Richard Flint have <br />personally spent long hours creating a combination park and space project that <br />residents of our city will enjoy for generations to come. This kind of service is above and <br />beyond the call of duty. The fiiends of Saga Hill arc truly gratefiil. <br />Sincerely, <br />(to be determined) <br />/ <br />TOTAL P.02