Cleaning up the damage to Kewanee’s parks from the July 15 tornadoes is one thing.
Paying for the repairs is another.
At their meeting Thursday, the Kewanee Park Board authorized Andrew Dwyer, the park district’s executive director, to work with the district’s insurance carrier and with the contractors involved in the cleanup on paying for the job.
Dwyer said 10 to 15 trees were lost in both Windmont and Chautauqua parks.
At Windmont, five structures were damaged. The most severe damage was to the roof at the Windmont shelter house, Dwyer said.
The fence along Beach Street was damaged and could cost $60,000 to repair, he said.
The electrical grid at Windmont was also damaged, he said. It will be a priority to get it fixed in time for work to begin on the Christmas lighting displays in the park, Dwyer added.
The tornadoes also caused delays of three to four weeks in two summer construction projects in the parks.
At Windmont, a complete revamping of the tennis courts is planned, to add pickleball and basketball courts, a new surface, new fencing and new lighting. Work on that project should begin soon, Dwyer said.
The other project is a solar canopy at the 19th Hole restaurant at Baker Park. Dwyer said he hopes that project can be finished by Labor Day.
Also Thursday:
— Dwyer noted that park officials will need to find a replacement for Justin Raver, who has been the district’s attorney. Raver is taking a job with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Rock Island.
— The director also said it was good to see the new Central Junior High golf team playing at Baker Park.
— The park district will apply for an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the state to build a playground at Windmont that meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
A public hearing on the grant application will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the Windmont shelter house.
