What is the difference between a public purpose and a public use?

Eminent Domain Law in Washington deals with the taking of private property for a public purpose or public use. The distinction between a “public purpose” and a “public use” is important to understand. Public purpose refers to the justification for taking away someone’s property. Taking private property for a public purpose would include projects such as road construction, highway expansion, public schools, and public parks. These projects are designed for public use and benefit, and the government may take private property for these purposes if the benefits of the project are greater than the harm of taking away the private property. Public use, on the other hand, refers to the actual utilization of the private property that is taken. Since private property is used for public use, the government must ensure that they are using it in such a way that benefits the general public. Examples of public use can be seen in cases where the government takes private land and turns it into public parks or builds public libraries in the area. In summary, the difference between a public purpose and a public use is that a public purpose justifies why the government should take away the private property, while a public use is the use to which the private property is put. Both have to be beneficial to the general public in order for it to be legally taken away.

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What is the difference between a public purpose and a public use?

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