Work will begin soon on a number of improvements to Francis Park, thanks to a major grant from the state.

The park is several miles east of Kewanee. But the city owns it because Fred Francis, who owned the property and built the unique Woodland Palace there, left it to the city in his will.

For years the park was neglected, but in the 1970s interest in Woodland Palace and the park with its acres of timber ground was revived. It became a campsite, and hiking trails were created in the timber on the west side of the park.

Now, some of the park facilities need to be upgraded. It will be a costly job, and the city applied for state help to pay for the work.

This spring city officials learned that the state had approved an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant of $600,000. The city will have to put up $36,000 in matching funds; City Manager Gary Bradley said the City Council budgeted for that expense.

The improvements include:

Upgrades to the sewer and water hookups for campers.

New playground equipment. Last month’s windstorm blew a tree onto a swing set in the park, demolishing it. Now the only playground equipment remaining are an old merry-go-round and another swing.

Upgrades to the hiking trails in the park’s timber.

Replacement of the shelter house in the park. Bradley said the existing shelter house will be demolished.

Since Francis Park is designated as a state historic site, any demolition — even of a non-historic structure like the shelter house — must be approved by state historic-preservation officials.

Bradley said he sees no problem with getting the approval, but the process will take several weeks. He said he expects that at least some of the upgrades to the park will be completed this year.