A plan is on the table. Now it’s up to the public to respond to proposals made for Greenleaf State Recreation Area.

The draft management plan for the Greenleaf State Recreation Area will be available for public review from Oct. 3 to Nov. 1, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced recently.

Additionally, the plan will be available for review at a public open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Oct. 13 at the Meeker County Courthouse in Litchfield.

The plan emphasizes youth and family activities, along with handicap hunting opportunities. Other recreational opportunities will be phased in over time, based on the amount of land in state ownership and the availability of funding.

Cathi Fouchi, DNNR regional planner at New Ulm, said the draft plan is the result of numerous citizen meetings and public outreach efforts.

“We have collected a great deal of public input and expert technical advice during the process of shaping this management plan,” Fouchi said. “Now that we have a draft of the plan we want to make sure everyone has a final opportunity to review and comment on it before it receives final approval.”

Copies of the plan are available for review at the Hutchinson DNR office, 20596 State Highway 7 W. The plan can also be reviewed online after Oct. 2 at: www.dnr.state.mn.us./state_parks/greenleaf_lake/index.html.
Comments can be e-mailed to Greenleaf.Info@dnr.state.mn.us. or mailed on the comment form by Nov. 1 to: DNR — Greenleaf Info, 261 State Highway 15 S., New Ulm, MN 56073.

As required by state statute, the Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area will remain temporarily closed to public use pending final approval of a recreational use master plan for the area.

Access to private land within the statutory boundary is permitted only if permission is obtained in advance. Most of the land within the boundary is privately owned.

The DNR says that the comprehensive draft plan, which will ultimately determine recreational uses to be offered within the statutory boundaries of the SRA, is being prepared for public review. The plan will be presented to the DNR Commissioner for final approval following the completion of the review process, which is expected to continue through December.