Board OKs Downtown Projects for State Grant

After almost two weeks of gathering public comments, approved Monday four downtown improvement projects that will be funded by a $400,000 state grant.

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The improvements that the board passed included: 

• Prairie Park parking lot development: Create a 1.5-acre parking lot on the 3.5-acre, village-owned tract of land adjacent to Prairie Park and the  in . The remaining 2.3 acres would be landscaped. Estimated cost: $275,000.
• Downtown streetscape improvements: Work along Kansas Street would rebuild sidewalks and relocate curbs and landscaping at the corners of Kansas and Ash streets and Kansas and Oak streets. Plans show a possible outdoor sidewalk cafe seating added to . Estimated cost:$15,000 to $20,000.
• Lights on  parking lot: Lights would be added to the lot to improve pedestrian safety. Improvements to the stage area on the Green also would be made. Estimated cost: $75,000.
• Downtown lighting improvements: Replace streetlights throughout the downtown area to improve public safety. The project would need 20 lights at $3,500 each. Estimated cost: $70,000.

Enhancements to the stage area on Breidert Green were added to the original proposal after a recent public comments session, said Village Administrator Jerry Ducay. The estimated cost of those improvements is about $30,000, he added.

, said Village Planning Supervisor Zach Brown at last Thursday's Plan Commission meeting.