Ideas floated for new park

A design for the future East Park, image via Farnsworth/City of Fairbury.

Ideas were shared for a new park during a public hearing held Wednesday prior to the regular Fairbury City Council meeting.

The East Park would be located near the wastewater treatment plant and high school practice fields. The seven-acre area is located by the current walking trail as the city acquired the land earlier this year.

A current Farnsworth Group proposal includes features such as a dog park, sled hill, inclusive nature-themed playground, a track for bicycles and walking loop.

“A dog park was one of the biggest things we’ve been approached about,” explained City Superintendent Brett Ashburn, referring to a community survey.

Dog parks are proposed for the west side and city officials talked about adding other elements to set it apart from others.

“We would like something people want to come to Fairbury for,” added Ashburn.

The sled hill would be the center focal point of the park and a playground facility would follow a nature theme to go with neighboring Fugate Woods. There is an area for future playground expansion.

“The idea is to kind of tie-in the nature element,” said City Clerk Alex Reis.

This will be done with a matching grant which means what the city puts in will be matched. The project budget is $1.2 million.

An OSLAD, or Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development, grant is a state-financed matching program in Illinois that helps local governments buy land and build or improve public parks and outdoor recreation spaces. This program is managed by IDNR and paid for using a portion of the state’s real estate transfer tax.

During its regular meeting, the Fairbury City Council approved a resolution authorizing the OSLAD grant. This does not mean the city is doing anything but rather trying for the grant, according to Mayor David Slagel.

An amendment was approved for the GFL Commercial Contract saying commercial dumpsters which are being switched from Fairbury to GFL will be billed directly by GFL.

Council members approved an estimate for a north drain tile project. The tile will go from the small parking lot across from the pool all the way to the creek by the sewer plant, to support inadequate drainage on the north side of town as well as future development on that part of town.

The group approved the consent agenda including Aug. 5 meeting minutes, voucher invoice register listing the bills, treasurer’s cash report, check register and overtime report.

Image via Farnsworth/City of Fairbury.