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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Chris Shields 651-296-8873
Column/LTE
STATE SHOULD BOND RICHFIELD'S AIRPORT LOSSES
The Capital Investment Bill - or bonding bill, as it is more popularly known - will be the central focus of the 2006 Legislative Session. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds to pay for long-term investments around the state. Great proposals from all over Minnesota have come in for consideration and Richfield is no exception.
We are asking the Legislature to include two investments this year to help Richfield. The requests seek state help in addressing needs that have arisen due to the construction and now operation of the north/south runway at MSP Airport. While the airport has continued its expansion, Richfield has been forced to continually sacrifice.
First, Richfield is asking the state for $4.6 million to assist the City in turning 17th Avenue into a parkway in order to separate residential areas from the Cedar Point commercial development area. The plan calls for walkways and bikeways that will connect into the Minneapolis lakes parkway system. It will also reduce traffic on nearby residential streets.
We are also asking the state to contribute $550,000 to renovate the baseball/softball diamonds at Lincoln Fields Park. Richfield lost out when the Metropolitan Airports Commission canceled Richfield's lease on property that had been used for over 40 years with 13 ball fields, a golf course, and community gardens. While the city has replaced many of these fields across the city, this plan will begin complete that restoration of recreation space Richfield once had. The city has committed to matching the state's contribution.
All we are asking for in this Capital Investment Bill is that those who have had to sacrifice are compensated fairly and the state does its part to make sure Richfield remains a great place to live even in the face of airport expansion.
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