The St. Cloud City Council Monday approved the $899,000 purchase of 0.64 acres on New York Avenue to expand Veterans Park, ending an earlier deal for a different lot.
The purchase covers properties at 1310-1322 New York Avenue owned by Michael Meehan. City Manager Veronica Miller said the city plans to use the land for parking and will use Parks and Recreation impact fee funds to buy the properties. Impact fees are one-time charges the city collects from developers of new homes and businesses to pay for park and recreation needs created by growth, rather than drawing on general tax revenue.
The city had been in the process of buying a different property at 1401 New York Avenue to expand the park but decided the new site was the better choice. Council voted to terminate that contract.
Regarding improvements that would have been needed at the 1401 New York Avenue property, Deputy Mayor Ken Gilbert said, “I don’t think that’s something that’s viable, so I would definitely switch lanes. I think this is a great move.”
Mayor Chris Robertson also backed the change. “For many years, the City of St. Cloud has tried to expand Veterans Park in all different directions,” he said. “I believe this alternative site is the right site to focus our efforts on.”
Veterans Park was dedicated in 1937 to all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, and its bandshell was dedicated in 1955. The park hosts a community market on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month featuring vendors, live entertainment, and veteran resources.
