09-22-1986 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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HENNEPIN COUNTY PARK RESERVE DISTRICT Big Island Regional Park - Chrono',4y of Significant Events In the early 1970's, the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District, and the Greater Minnetonka Council expressed a desire to have Big Island, located within Lake Minnetonka, preserved as a natural area/public park. Their expressed desire prompted the Hennepin County Park Reserve District and the City of Orono to formally recognize Big Island for preservation as a park/nature preserve area. To date the Hennepin County Park Reserve District has acquired approximately 63 acres of the proposed 140-acre regional park. Eight properties remain to be acquired within the approved park boundary, including the 62 (plus or minus) -acre Big Island Disabled American Veterans Camp. The following is a chronology of significant events with regard to Big Island Regional Park. May 22, 1972 The City of Orono, by resolution declared the highest and best use of Big Island was for park. purposes. The resolution stated that the park should be administered by an agency of county -wide responsibility and endorsed the Hennepin County Pars Reserve District as the managing agency June 5, 1972 The Board of Commissioners of the Hennepin County Park Reserve District passed a resolution supporting preservation of Big Island as a public park. August 1974 The City of Orono approved a comprehensive plan stating with respect to Big Island that" "Ownership of these lands are either private, federal, or Hennepin County Park Reserve District. It is recommended that as private and federal lands become available for sale, that every effort be made to combine them with the County Park Reserve District so that these lands will eventually be included in the park and recreation system available in Orono Village. It is further recommended that no public facilities or municipal services be provided to these lands because their island location makes such services both impractical and extremely expensive." October 3, 1974 Hennepin "ounty Park Reserve District Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a 3 (plus or minus) -acre parcel of land on Big Island (former Specht property).