The bridge over Crow River on Minnesota Highway 24 northeast of Litchfield will not be moved to Greenleaf State Recreation Area.

Meeker County commissioners agreed Tuesday to accept the decision of Mark Matuska, southern regional director of the Department of Natural Resources.

The bridge, which has historic significance because of its unusual design, is scheduled for replacement in early 2009, and area residents had suggested that it be relocated to a spot inside the new state recreation area.

However, Matuska told the County Board that Minnesota Department of Transportation and the DNR had signed a memorandum of understanding in April 2007 that the bridge be relocated to Lake Louise State Park in Mower County in southern Minnesota.

There it will replace a structurally deficient bridge over the Iowa River, which is on the only access road to the park’s campground.

Matuska told commissioners the bridge would not be compatible to Greenleaf State Recreation Area, where the main objective is to keep the setting as natural as possible. He noted a bridge near the shoreline of Greenleaf Lake would not contribute to a natural environment.

Matuska also said that setting up and maintaining the bridge would detract from the Greenleaf SRA budget where funds will be needed for other facilities. Lake Louise State Park, he noted, already has a bridge maintenance budget.

Read more about the Tuesday board meeting in the Aug. 21 print edition.