County buys land for new park
December 9, 2010
St. Charles County, MO
St. Charles County recently closed on the purchase of 83.4 acres for a future park along Hackmann Road, between Highway 79 and St. Paul. The county paid the appraised price of $583,800 for the acreage which will become Hackmann Park.
The land was part of the estate of the late Elvera “Babe” Hackmann who had requested the property be sold for a park. Hackmann was a longtime St. Charles County resident who died earlier this year.
“Even though general revenue is down and the budget is tight, there is money in the “use tax” fund that may be used only for parks,” County Executive Steve Ehlmann said. “This is a dedicated fund, and we are prohibited from using it for our general budget.”
The land has rolling, sloping hills. It has been used as farmland and is well out of the floodplain. This will be a park in reserve.
“We’re grateful that Babe had the foresight to want this land, which was near and dear to her and her family, to be used as a public park,” said Bettie Yahn-Kramer, director of the Parks Department. “Babe was always a civic-minded citizen, and this will be a fitting tribute to her.”
Copyright 2010 Neighbors About Town
