Brooklyn Park Approves Leasing Fair Oaks Park Land to Charter School
Monday night, the Brooklyn Park City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding for a lease agreement between the city and Excell Academy.
The agreement will allow the school to lease nearby Fair Oaks Park for $1 a year for the next 40 years. Excell Academy plans to add additional parking, playground equipment and sports fields to the adjacent park.
The school initially tried to purchase a section of the park for $526,000, but that plan did not receive the full support of the council.
“I think that right now, a lease is a better way,” said Brooklyn Park Council Member Mark Mata. “It’s way cheaper on your side instead of the $500,000. It’s a dollar, and to me that’s a win-win.”
Per the terms of the lease agreement, Excell Academy has until Dec. 31, 2021 to make the park improvements at their expense.
