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Rexburg council approves purchase of 5 acres from BYU‑Idaho for neighborhood park
Summary
The council approved a purchase and sale with BYU‑Idaho that transfers five acres to the city (staff said the university will receive a $200,000 fee credit and urban renewal will reimburse the city and help develop the parcel), with initial improvements limited to grading, irrigation and tree planting.
Rexburg City Council voted Dec. 3 to approve a purchase and sale agreement with BYU‑Idaho for five acres adjacent to an existing retention pond that staff said will become part of the city’s park inventory.
CFO Matt Nielsen briefed the council, saying the Stei ner family had donated the property years earlier and that BYU‑Idaho agreed to trade five acres to the city in exchange for a $200,000 credit toward fees such as impact and building fees. "They are willing to trade us 5 acres in the back there that we would give them a credit for $200,000 towards fees," Nielsen said.
Nielsen said urban renewal had budgeted a reimbursement contribution to cover the $200,000 credit and would help develop the parcel; the city would provide trail funds to build immediate connectivity and plant trees through a recently reinstated tree grant. Council members asked about a possible trail connection across nearby church property, and staff said no agreement with the church is yet finalized and any connection is contingent on church approval.
Staff recommended limited initial park work—grading, installing irrigation, planting trees and building the trail connection if the church grants access—because the parcel includes a retention pond that can backfill during storms. Public Works staff noted the pond can remain deep for a couple of days during heavy runoff, so the city plans open, resilient landscaping rather than heavily improved play features in the low area.
A motion to approve the purchase and the related budget adjustment passed by voice vote. Council members also discussed bringing the trail design to the trails and parks committee and planting trees in spring using the reinstated grant and volunteer labor.
The council’s approval allows staff to close the transaction at the title company and begin design work on connectivity and limited park improvements; staff said more extensive development of the front portion of the park would await future budget availability.
