Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Platte County approves $270,000 purchase for five-acre parcel to extend Prairie Creek Greenway and fund intersection roundabout
Summary
The county approved buying a five-acre parcel south of the Prairie Creek Greenway to extend trail access and advance a developer-funded roundabout and pedestrian crossings; the commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize the purchase agreement.
Platte County commissioners voted Feb. 24 to authorize staff to purchase a five-acre parcel south of the Prairie Creek Greenway for $270,000, a move county parks staff said will allow extension of the county trail network and a new trailhead.
Daniel Erickson, director of Platte County Parks and Recreation, told commissioners the purchase aligns with a memorandum of understanding with a developer (OB Rentals LLC, controlled by David Barth) to upgrade a nearby intersection to a roundabout and provide safe pedestrian crossings connecting the 7 Bridges neighborhood to the Prairie Creek Greenway. Erickson said the parcel will allow the county to extend the trail south from the current trailhead, create a small trailhead park and move a section of trail away from a recently failed segment.
"The arrangement under the memorandum of understanding is the developer is going to upgrade the intersection from just a normal turn lane, uncontrolled intersection to a full roundabout with the pedestrian crossings," Erickson said. He explained that roundabouts slow traffic, reduce crossing widths to one lane at a time and create safe zones for at-grade crossings.
Erickson said the five-acre parcel was appraised at $270,000; that figure does not include closing costs. He told commissioners the purchase will be paid from the county's parks and stormwater sales tax. Staff recommended approval; the county’s legal review and budget checks were completed before the item came to the commission.
Commissioners approved the purchase by unanimous roll call (3-0). The purchase agreement follows an earlier memorandum of understanding with the developer to coordinate the roundabout and pedestrian improvements. Erickson said no final design for a trailhead park is in place; the parcel is being acquired because the owner is willing to sell at the appraised price and the acquisition preserves a county option for future park or parking expansion.
Ending: County staff said routine closing procedures and project planning will follow; the parks department will return to the commission with design and construction details as those elements advance.
