Ask Mr. Answer Person: Can city parks be sold?

(Mark Allen has asked: "Could the City of Decorah sell Mary Christopher Park?  I never see anyone using the park when I drive past it.  If the park was sold, it could be the site of more housing for people who want to be within walking distance of downtown.  And the money raised could fund other Park-Rec projects that have been discussed."):

Mr. Answer Person says: "The answer to your question is 'maybe.'  Parks Director Andy Nimrod says the parks are city property, so if the city wanted to sell one of them, it could--maybe.

There's some fine print to read before coming up with a definite answer.  Nimrod says he can't remember the City of Decorah ever buying a park--all 650 acres plus of parks in Decorah have been donated by people who supported the park system.  That means the deeds might have included restrictions in them when the properties were given to the city--including possible restrictions on the sale of the properties.

As for selling Mary Christopher Park, at half an acre of property, it would be the city's smallest park--if not for the Water Street Park.  But, unlike Water Street Park, Mary Christopher Park isn't located in the middle of downtown.

Mr. A.P. suspects the issue of whether the City of Decorah can sell Mary Christopher Park will remain a hypothetical question--unless some developer is motivated to "make them an offer they can't refuse!"