Iowa DOT News

AMES, Iowa – Nov. 30, 2016 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is proposing to acquire additional permanent easement from Harriman Park in Franklin County. 

Harriman Park is located at the northwest corner of U.S. 65 and 19^th Avenue Northeast. Harriman Park is publicly owned and maintained by the city of Hampton. The primary functions of the park are to provide recreational opportunities in open space and playground areas, as well as gathering locations at several shelters located throughout the park.  

The Iowa DOT will acquire approximately 0.12 acre of permanent easement from Harriman Park.

Harriman Park has been determined to be a Section 4(f) resource and the acquisition of right of way is expected to have “de minimis” impact on the area.

Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 was enacted as a means of protecting publicly owned parks, recreation areas, and wildlife/waterfowl refuges, as well as historic sites of local, state, or national significance from conversion to transportation uses. De minimis impacts are defined as those that, after consideration of any measure(s) to minimize harm (such as avoidance, minimization, mitigation, or enhancement measures), do not adversely affect the activities, features, and attributes of the Section 4(f) resource. 

The public is invited to review the impacts of the proposed project on the protected activities, features, and attributes of Harriman Park by:

• Visiting iowadot.gov/ole/otherprojectinfo.html.
• Mailing a request for information to: Shelby Ebel, Office of Location and Environment, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010.
• Calling 515-239-1999 to request information.
• Sending an email request for information to [email protected].

The public comment period ends Dec. 22, 2016. Comments may be submitted through the online comment at httpd://bit.ly/iowadot108311181.

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