The Farmersville City Council has decided to pursue a matching grant that would help the city purchase 20 to 50 acres of land that would be set aside as natural blackland prai­rie grass, which the mayor de­scribes as a treasure worthy of preservation.

City Council met June 22 in executive session to discuss a potential real estate purchase – which is an item the Texas Open Meetings Law allows to be discussed in private. The council came back into open session and voted unanimously to pursue the grant. The work­ing name for the land under consideration is Blackland Prairie Park. Negotiations will include how much of the land, which is owned by a private party, the city will be able to purchase. Wiebold said the city currently owns 43 acres of blackland prairie grass at Southlake Park.

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By John Kanelis • [email protected]