Kewanee Park District officials are seeking financial help from the city for two upcoming projects.
In a letter to the City Council, Park Board President Paula Kapacinskas and Executive Director Andrew Dwyer asked the council to “waive the cost of water to the Splash Pad to the greatest extent possible.”
And Dwyer said park officials will ask the city to pay for dredging the lagoon in Windmont Park.
The letter asking for lowering the cost of water for the splash pad said, “We do so with the thought in mind that we both serve the same populous and avoiding additional costs and fees that would be passed on to our residents is a mutual priority for us both.”
Construction is to start soon on the splash pad in Liberty Park.
The letter notes other intergovernmental cooperation between the city and the park district:
— Park district employees repaired a wood chipper owned by the city, which the park department sometimes uses and maintains.
— The city waives sewer fees when the water is drained from the pool at the Oasis Family Aquatic Center. That water goes into a storm drain and not into the sanitary sewer.
— The park district provides free use of Northeast Park for the Commission on Human Relations’ annual Pride Fest.
“Our collaboration and partnership has gone far beyond that with our maintenance teams coming together on a litany of projects where our teams have worked hand in hand to benefit our city and parks alike,” the letter said.
The letter also noted that Mayor Gary Moore had asked about adding a new restroom to the list of upgrades at Liberty Park. That was added to the core plan for the state OSLAD grant that is paying for the splash pad and other park improvements.
Dwyer said the Windmont lagoon needs to be dredged. In the past, he said, the city has paid for that job since the water in the lagoon comes in from two large storm sewers in that part of the city.
He said park officials will attend Monday’s council meeting to provide any additional information the council needs on their requests.
