The new Interstate 35W bridge being built over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis has a larger footprint than the bridge that collapsed on Aug. 1, 2007. A new law addresses the loss of park lands as a result of the new construction.
Signed May 1 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the law, sponsored by Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls), authorizes the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to retain proceeds from the condemnation of park lands or its interest in land necessary for the reconstruction and expansion of the bridge site. It is effective May 2, 2008.
The proceeds are required to be allocated into a park land acquisition account controlled by the park board. Account funds are to be invested and used solely for acquiring land adjacent to the Mississippi River for park purposes. Acquired lands must be included in the metropolitan regional recreational open space system.
Also in the law is a report requirement from the park board to be filed with the commissioner of finance and the Metropolitan Council regional administrator that outlines the use of the funds in the park land acquisition account, until the funds are expended.
HF3723/SF3331*/CH257