Windmont Park will remain closed for several days, according to Kewanee Parks Director Andrew Dwyer. Northeast Park is open, as is the Oasis swimming pool, but ball games are canceled due to lack of park resources to maintain the diamonds.
Dwyer said he has now had time to fully assess the damage to Kewanee parks and estimates the price tag for cleanup and repair could run anywhere from $200,000 to $250,000. That’s about half the cost it took to repair the damage caused from last year’s tornado, he said.
Baker Park Pleasure Drive and Golf Course will also remain closed for at least two days. The park lacks power and the 19th Hole restaurant will also remain closed until power is restored.
Still some of the parks will need repairs to structures including Windmont and Chautauqua parks. Chautauqua Park, perched at the west edge of town, has multiple downed trees, a fate it suffered during a derecho several years ago and a tornado in 2023.
Dwyer is asking residents to avoid Windmont Park, as there are some downed power lines there.
While surveying Baker Park Golf Course, Dwyer said he noticed the damage seemed to occur in a swath or line, making him wonder if a small tornado hadn’t gone through the park.
The Kewanee Park District board was set to meet this Thursday, but Dwyer said he has delayed the board meeting until next week, citing the need to get information and hopefully a response from the park district’s insurance company.
“We don’t even have power to print off documents,” he said.
Dwyer said he will seek assistance from tree services, as the district has done before, in order to start the cleanup process.
The board could meet as soon as Wednesday next week.
“I am hoping to have some answers from the insurance company by then,” he said.
Although the damage at the parks is bad, “compared to the rest of the town, it could have been worse,” Dwyer said.
Dwyer said he expects the park board to pass a resolution next week authorizing the cleanup work to begin.
