The Minneapolis Park Board voted to spend $500,000 on an engineering consultant to revisit environmental concerns surrounding the Southwest light rail project in Kenilworth corridor.

Brad Bourn, a Park Board commissioner, said the Park Board made the decision as a result of a discussion with an outside attorney.

Because of a federal law stating transit projects on park land cannot damage the environment, Bourn said the attorney recommended the Park Board hire its own engineering firm to perform a study. According to Bourn, the goal will be to determine if there will be a negative environmental impact on the Kenilworth corridor because of the light rail.

Bourn also said the goal is to find a compromise with the least amount of problems on both sides.

“Our park land is very important. On the other hand, it’s a very important transit project that will impact the entire region,” Bourn said. “(They are) two important assets for the community, and we’re trying to find a way they’re compatible.”