TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dustin Anderson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
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Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Agreement between Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Joliet for Site Circulation and Visitor Experience Enhancements at Route 66 Park at Broadway Street Greenway
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BACKGROUND:
The State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has made grant funds under the Route 66 Grant Program available to the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) for the purpose of celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. The centennial celebration activities include attraction development and enhancements along historic Route 66.
The City-owned Route 66 Park at the Broadway Street Greenway is a well-known Route 66 visitor destination for its 1950's era ice cream stand (Rich & Creamy) that is open seasonally at 920 Broadway Street. The City made significant investments in this park under last year's Route 66 Grant program, with new interpretative signs and installations that greatly enhanced the visual attraction of this tourist and local destination.
DISCUSSION:
Site circulation - specifically the path from the parking lot to the ice cream stand - was not able to be addressed with last year's grant funds. Visitor experience and safety at Route 66 Park at the Broadway Street Greenway suffers from poor site circulation. There is physical space to reconfigure pedestrian circulation to rectify these concerns.
Based on our engineer's estimate, it will cost approximately $150,000 to make the necessary improvements, including the design work. City staff identified the Route 66 Grant program as one funding source to make these improvements. The City learned earlier this year that it was awarded up to $75,000 in funding through the Route 66 Grant Round 4 Program to enhance site circulation at Route 66 Park at the Broadway Street Greenway. Costs up to $75,000 will be paid by the ...
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