Colorado Parks Division Sued Over Christo Project
DENVER (AP) - Opponents of the artist Christo's plan to suspend huge fabric panels over stretches of the Arkansas River are suing the Colorado parks division for allowing him to carry out the project, if federal land managers grant him a permit.
The citizens group Rags Over the Arkansas River and two fly-fishing businesses filed their lawsuit in Denver District Court. They say Christo's "industrial-scale" Over the River project could have significant adverse impacts on park values and, therefore, requires a state permit.
Parks officials in June approved a memorandum of agreement that says Christo's team would pay $550,000 in fees and expenses to carry out his project if the Bureau of Land Management grants a federal permit for it.
State parks officials declined to comment Wednesday.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
