Highland seeks park-plan input

HIGHLAND — Speak now or forever hold your peace — words to live by for Highland residents.

City officials are asking for more public comment regarding the implementation of the city's Highland Glen Park master plan.

The comment period, which was supposed to end on Jan. 24, has been extended to Feb. 18.

Money from the Land and Water Conservation Funds Act were used to purchase the parcel of land on which the park will be built. Because of this, certain changes made to the land are considered conversions and require approval by the National Park Service before the conversion can be made. A proposed east-west access road for the park is considered a land conversion.

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires that the park service review all possible environmental consequences and seek public comment before such conversions are permitted.

Once the city submits its master plan, the park service will make a decision. Highland City Administrator Barry Edwards hopes the master plan will be submitted to the park service during the spring and that construction will get under way sometime this summer.

Residents can submit comments by either writing to the city administrator at city hall or by visiting the city's Web site at www.highlandcity.org.