Phase 1 of Nisswa Lake Park project approved

The Nisswa City Council on Wednesday, June 20, accepted a proposal from Short Elliot Hendrickson (SEH) engineering firm in Brainerd for $12,800 for the phase 1 Nisswa Lake Park planning and design.

The city approved a joint powers agreement with the DNR, which agreed to contribute up to $6,400 for this phase of work. The DNR also would do a cultural and resource assessment on both the city site for the park on Hazelwood Drive and the DNR site for a public access to the lake.

The council also agreed to use $2,000 from an Initiative Foundation grant (which totals $5,000) and $4,400 from Nisswa's park dedication fund (which totals $12,500) that already was allocated to the new park to pay for this phase.

Council member Lenny Hodgson said he supported this because of the funding sources. A commitment was made not to bond or levy for taxpayer funds to pay for Nisswa Lake Park, and that is not being done, he said.

This planning and design phase includes surveys of trees and the lake.

Phase 2 is the public part of that and will be contingent upon funding available. Phase 3 is park design.