Land Swap Planned to Re-Open St. Cloud’s Friedrich Park

ST. CLOUD - We now know more about St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis' plan to re-open a park in the southeast part of town.

The plan to open Friedrich park hinges on the approval of a land swap between the city and St. Cloud State University. Kleis wants St. Cloud to acquire the 51 acres of the quarry park, which is owned by SCSU. And, in exchange, SCSU will get three pieces of city-owned land near the parking lot south of the National Hockey Center. The value of the land swap is almost identical.

The next steps will be for the plan to get approval from the city Planning Commission and the City Council. Mayor Kleis hopes that will happen yet this month. The state will also have to sign-off on it.

If that happens, Kleis says he'll be asking for volunteers to help clean-up the garbage and the brush along the walking trails, with a target of opening the park in August.

Kleis says he'll ask the State Legislature for $6 million in bonding money next year to clean-up the water in the quarries for swimming. If that fails, he'll try to get some money from the Land and Legacy Amendment. There's also the possibility of using local half-cent sales tax money.

Filed Under: George Friedrich Park, st. cloud mayor dave kleis

Categories: St. Cloud News