By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
City of Burlington City Administrator Kevin Lahner knows it is a long shot that the city will get both grants it is seeking for park renovations.
He’s been told as much.
But that didn’t keep the city from requesting the money May 7 to send out two grant requests that, if received, could net the city about $286,000 to fund the two projects.
The Common Council, with one member absent, voted unanimously to allow SSA Design Group to submit the application for grant money to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The cost of the two applications was not available Tuesday evening.
If the city receives the two grants, it will be responsible for 50 percent of the costs, while the DNR will fund the other half.
However, there are two factors at play beyond just the cost. As Alderman Tom Vos pointed out Tuesday night, the Park Development Fund hasn’t recently had a lot – if any – money.
When Lahner pointed out there is about $180,000 in the fund, Vos asked if it would be prudent to spend all that money on these two projects, especially since that fund tends to come from gifts and similar donations, and there’s no guarantee it will be rebuilt.
Lahner said the city is working from its updated Comprehensive Parks, Open Space, and Trails Plan – which was updated in 2010 – and the work does need to be done. However, if the city receives both grants, which Lahner told the council he’d been assured was “highly unlikely,” the park work would be scaled back so as not to exceed the amount available in the development fund.
“If you don’t ask for it, you’re never going to get it,” Lahner said of the funds.
The work would occur at two city parks – Wehmoff Jucker Park – and on trail improvements and expansions.
The work at Wehmoff Jucker would include the installation of shoreline stabilization materials like was done at adjacent Riverside Park last year, and the addition of a bike rack and trail head to connect the trail and paths with existing pavilions.
The other grant request is to extend current pedestrian and bike paths so that easier and safer access is possible.
Neither plan will go forward unless its respective grant is received.
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