It’s only mid-January, but Kewanee Park District officials are already looking ahead to new developments in 2025.
Plans include a major new construction project, upgrades to decades-old facilities and continuing tried-and-true park programs for Kewanee residents of all ages.
Andrew Dwyer, executive director of the park district, listed some of the plans for 2025:
— The biggest project will be building a splash pad at Liberty Park. The facility will be the centerpiece of an improvement program for the park that began with a big new playground facility last year.
Dwyer said the park district has advertised for bids for a contractor to build the splash pad, and he expects the park board to approve a contractor by its February meeting.
Construction can start as soon as the weather allows, and Dwyer said, “Hopefully, we can open it up in May.”
— Upgrades to shelter houses in the parks are being considered. These would include new floors and lighting that would make the shelter houses more attractive places for people to hold events, Dwyer said.
The shelter houses are already popular with Kewaneeans; Dwyer said anyone who wants to rent one of the buildings for an event this year should reserve the date as soon as possible.
— The new outdoor pavilion at Baker Park will open when the season begins. Dwyer said people can make reservations through the 19th Hole to use the pavilion for their events.
The pavilion offers seating and tables under roof for large groups, and two fire pits are available.
Dwyer said April 1 is the target date for opening the golf course.
— The park district is conducting an experiment this year, as the park board last fall approved purchasing four electric golf carts for Baker Park.
Dwyer said the park staff will do an analysis to determine how the cost of operating the electric carts compares with that of the course’s gasoline carts.
— Dwyer said park officials learned last month that the district’s application for an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the state was denied. Dwyer said he expects that the application wasn’t successful because the park district got an OSLAD grant last year to pay for the splash pad at Liberty.
