In The News

from The Telegraph
November 2, 2005

Bank officials present city
with check for park work

By LINDA N. WELLER
The Telegraph

ALTON - A growling earth­:mover provided an appropriate backdrop Tuesday for representatives of the Bank of Edwardsville to give city officials a $2,500 check toward renovation of once-troubled Hellrung Park.

Standing on the Union Street side of the park, Karen McAtee, a bank vice president, handed the check in an envelope to Mike Drake, executive director of the Alton Park and Recreation Department.

"We're re-investing in the community," McAtee said. "The Bank of Edwardsville is a locally owned community bank."

"We are trying to support the communities where we are located and help the city of Alton re-invest," said bank spokeswoman Stacey Pace.

City officials were jovial as they accepted the check.

"I think it's great; the more the merrier," said Alton Mayor Don Sandidge. "This is a challenge to the other banks. This is for the kids."

Across from the congregation of city and bank representatives, in the evolving "new" park, a heavy equipment operator was grading dirt that within months will lie under a new skate park.

Some 15 feet away from that delineated area, a future basketball court already has been paved and awaits striping, poles, backboards and nets.

The Bank of Edwardsville's gift was a response to a mailing of "campaign letters" that went out Oct. 7 to the Alton area, asking for donations to rebuild the once-troubled park.

A $2,500 gift enables the donor to become a "park sponsor" and be listed on a 5­foot limestone marker at Hellrung's entrance.

Drake said the money would be used toward the numerous purchases and site work yet ahead, including buying playground and skate park equipment, as well as installing a children's 10-spigot "mist" play fountain, side­walks and community garden area.

Also planned are "seating walls," a wall covered with 125 clay tiles decorated by local children and a small amphitheater with pavilion.

In order to comply with grant requirements, all work for the $450,000 to $500,000 project must be completed by June 2006.

After the quick presentation, Sandidge and Terry Dooley of the bank reminisced about the fun they had decades ago as boys at the park, including at its former shelter, as they imagined its future for today's youths.

"One of the first baseball games I went to was here," Dooley said.

George Carter, Alton assistant supervisor of building and zoning, recalled that he learned to bat left~handed at the park in order to maximize the distance of his hits.

Among others in attendance were Aldermen Phil Hanrahan, 2nd Ward, Joe Maher, 3rd Ward, and Fred Young, 4th Ward; Debby Jones from the bank; Rita Backstrom, Alton deputy director of development, housing and grants; Bruce Bertolino, executive director of the Alton Weed and Seed strategy; Brad Cunningham, Alton recreation director; Rhonda Lewis, associate director of the Alton Park and Recreation Department ; Greg Caffey, Alton,community development coordinator; David Miles, Alton personnel director; and Jennifer Campbell of Weed and Seed.

The park, previously sub-grade from the surrounding streets, had decayed, and provided good cover for criminal activities.

The city has gotten approval for $328,000 in grants, including $228,000 from the state's Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) as matching funds, reimbursable after the work is completed; $100,000 from the Metro East Park and Recreation District sales tax; $40,000 from The Siedlund Co. of St. Louis; the commitment of another $20,000 from OSLAD; and $10,000 from unnamed St. Louis donors.

lnweller@hotmail.com

Alton Weed & Seed Strategy
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