After months of devising plans for new industrial parks and open space in Douglas County, members of an advisory board are looking to shift into reality.

Members of the Lawrence-Douglas County Economic Development Board agreed Monday to send proposals to Lawrence and Douglas County commissioners.

The advisers’ hope: Elected officials will embrace their visions for development of at least two new industrial parks and preservation of dozens of acres of open space in the coming years. The idea is to ask for broad support from both commissions, then work on possible financing plans for 2007.

“If we need to be on a city agenda every week, we can do that,” said Mike Maddox, board chairman.

The board’s vision includes establishing business parks in two locations: the former Farmland Industries fertilizer plant at the southeastern edge of town, and an unspecified area near Lawrence Municipal Airport.

The Farmland property has attracted the most attention, given its prominence along Kansas Highway 10 and officials’ efforts to secure the property through Farmland’s bankruptcy case.

Farmland has deposited $7 million in an escrow account to be used for environmental cleanup, a total at least one board member doubts would be enough to get the job done.

“You’re not going to get your money back out of Farmland,” said Bob Stephens, a member of Douglas County Development Inc., which oversees the county-owned East Hills Business Park nearby. “Do we have an obligation to the community to clean that place up? Absolutely. : But there will be millions and millions and millions there that you won’t get back.”

Lawrence city commissioners will be scheduled to review the board’s requests during their upcoming goal-setting session for 2006, scheduled for mid-January.