By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

Scott County has secured another 50 acres to add to Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park.

The county has made a $1.2 million conditional purchase of land along the northwestern side of St. Catherine’s Lake in Cedar Lake Township. The purchase was approved last week by the Scott County Board.

Originally, the county offered the owner, the Adelmann Family Trust, $1.11 million, based on the county’s newest appraisal. The counteroffer was $1.45 million, based on a 2006 appraisal conducted by the county for right-of-way, which valued the property at $1.62 million. After continued negotiations, the parties agreed to $1.2 million.

The agreement is contingent upon several items, including the county acquiring funding for the purchase. Barn at Doyle-Kennefick Park

The county is seeking grants from the Metropolitan Council (75 percent of the purchase price) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ($300,000 to $375,000). Funding might also come from the county’s park dedication fund ($152,000 is available) and its park capital improvement program.

Currently, the county owns 480 acres of what it envisions someday as a 900-acre park bordered by St. Catherine’s Lake on the north and Lennon Lake on the south.

The property includes prime woods, prairies, wetlands and the 115-acre St. Catherine's Lake. It is currently undeveloped and not yet open to the public.

Shannon Fiecke can be reached at sfiecke@swpub.com.