In The News

from The Telegraph
March 6, 2006

City resumes park project
Stretch of dry weather allows workers to move heavy equipment

By LINDA N. WELLER
The Telegraph

ALTON - A spate of dry weather is allowing Alton Park and Recreation workers. to bring in heavy equipment and grade the evolving Hellrung Park.

The focus is on preparing the ground for construction of a future pavilion and community garden. Excess soil that had been hauled in to raise the bottom of the subgrade park is being hauled to fill in Olin Park on State Street.

Hellrung, once a crime-ridden hole in the area of Central Avenue, Union, Brown and East Seventh streets in the Mexico neighborhood, had much of its "bowl" filled a few years ago. The city also demolished houses at its perimeter to aid in its visibility.

"Everything is weather pending," said Mike Drake, executive director of the Park and Recreation Department.

Rhonda Lewis, deputy director of the department, said it has been too wet to work on the park for the past three months, during which time some rainwater accumulated in the basin.

"The grading will help the water flow," Lewis said, as the dirt being graded will build up around the raised storm water drains and allow water to flow into them.

Four organizations, Weed and Seed neighborhood revitalization strategy, Sierra Club, Pride Inc. and the Alton Clean City and Beautification Committee, are working with neighbors to plan, plant and maintain the 40-foot-diameter circle garden.

The circle will be divided into quadrants, with pavers delineating the middle "criss­cross" so people can reach the planting areas without walking on dirt or the plants.

"We still have to pour the (concrete) pad (for the pavilion) then start with the keystone wall," Lewis said. "Right now the weather is perfect."

The schedule is to build the pavilion and put in new playground and skate park equipment this month.

Drake said the city soon will go out for bids on fencing for the park. He recently ordered equipment for the skate park that will be installed on the concxete slabs already in place.

An asphalt basketball court also is down, with the posts, backboards and baskets yet to be installed. Sidewalks also will be put in, grass seeded and trees planted in pavement wells.

The state's Open Space Land Acquisition and Development is providing $228,000 in 50/50 matching funds for the $450,000 to $500,000 project. OSLAD requires work to be done by June 30 but Drake said the wet weather slowdown might prompt him to ask for an extension.

The city is providing $90,000 as in-kind work and $100,000 is coming from the Metro-East Park and Recreation District. The Siedlund Co. of St. Louis, developer of .nearby Hampton Place and Hampton Place Extension in-fill housing developments, also provided $20,000 for park improvements, with possibly another $20,000 on the way after its next set of homes is occupied, Drake said.

OSLAD also is committed to another $20,000 grant, he said. Consultant Wayne Freeman and the Tony Hawk Foundation, both of St. Louis each gave $5,000, and the Bank of Edwardsville donated $2,500 last year, Drake said.

The Illinois Department of National Resources’ Urban Forestry program gave $5,000 in fiscal year 2004-05 for tree purchases for the park. Lewis said the city got an extension on its deadline to buy the trees.

Freeman also has organized a mailing to solicit donations, results of which are still pending.

lnweller@hotmail.com

Alton Weed & Seed Strategy
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