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Arlington City Council approves purchase of Graafstra property | UPDATE

By ADAM RUDNICK
Arlington Times Reporter
Feb 01 2010

ARLINGTON — The City Council approved the purchase of approximately 150 acres of the Graafstra farm at its Feb. 1 meeting.

The city plans to purchase the lowlands for $4 million and use the property to build a recreation area, according to city documents.

The property purchase will require an $800,000 down payment — $274,000 of will be paid for by a Washington state Salmon Recovery Funding Board grant.

According to a city memo, the Graafstra property could provide nature trails, an off-leash pet area, a campground and other land for recreational activities in the future.

Hank and Betty Graafstra started County Charm Dairy in 1969, and operated it for 37 years.

Over the past few years, the city has been negotiating with the Graafstras to purchase the property for a recreational area.

Arlington Times Reporter Adam Rudnick can be reached at arudnick@arlingtontimes.com or 360-659-1300.
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