|
from The Telegraph
December 27, 2004
Park project receives help from Illinois
Grant to go toward landscaping and tree planting
By CYNTHIA M. ELLIS
The Telegraph
ALTON - A park project that started two years ago in the city is now getting help from the state to beautify the space.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced last week that Alton would receive $5,630 in urban forestry money to help with landscaping and tree planting in Hellrung Park, which is currently under renovation.
"The benefits to communities of planting trees are immeasurable," Blagojevich said. "Improving the quality of urban forests helps beautify neighborhoods, and can help attract and retain businesses and residents."
Mike Drake, executive director of parks and recreation, said he is excited about getting the grant money for the project. He said the funds are provided on a cost-share basis, and the city will provide 50 percent of the project's costs.
Since the city first decided to renovate the depressed 2.6-acre park bounded by Central Avenue, Union, Brown, and East Seventh streets in the Mexico neighborhood, the size has more than doubled, Drake said.
"Since we first applied for the grant, we acquired 11 more properties surrounding the park," Drake said. "So (the park) needs to be redesigned, but this grant helps when it comes to time to plant trees and do the landscaping."
More than two years ago, city officials decided it was time to clean up the park that attracted crack cocaine dealers, prostitutes and their "johns" and graffiti artists into the area, and discouraged children and families from taking part in recreational activities or picnics.
The park closed in December 2002, and since that time, the park was filled in with more than 35,000 cubic yards of fill. Drake estimated it would take years to fill up the park; however, the project was completed in less than five months.
"I thought it would take three to four years, I thought it would be one load per day," he said. There was a lot more activity in Alton than I expected."
Hellrung dates to 1932, when the city filled in a pond to create the park. Before being filled in, the park had a basketball court in poor condition and minimal, deteriorating playground equipment.
City officials view the renovation of the park as important, because it is in the middle of the federally funded Operation Weed and Seed neighborhood revitalization project's target area. It also sits across the street from Hampton Place, an in-fill housing development in which tenants rent-to-own.
Drake said that since the city acquired more homes adjacent to the park, they are now going to be able to reconfigure its design, which includes putting in a skate park, a basketball court, playground equipment and a fountain for children to play in.
"I was hesitant about committing to the skate park, because there wasn't that much room for it," he said.
He said the original plans included a 40-foot-by-50-foot park; however, the city now will be able to put one in twice that size. "Since the park has grown, we will be able to do more," he said.
"The park, which will close at dusk daily, also will include lighted walkways.
"There will also be picnic shelters and barbecue grills," Drake said.
Drake said Wayne Freeman is providing his services for free in designing the park. Also working on the project are volunteers with the Alton Weed and Seed program.
Before fill was added to the park, some 10 to 12 trees were removed, most from around the perimeter. Drake said he didn't know how many or what type of new trees would be used to
replace the ones removed. He said more specific details about the park should become available within the next month.
The funding for the grants is provided through the Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, administered in Illinois by the Department of Natural Resources.
"Trees are a valuable natural resource in our state, and it is important they flourish in urban - as well as rural - environments," said Joel Brunsvold, director of the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources.
cynmell@hotmail.com
|
