TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dustin Anderson, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Agreement between Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Joliet for Sidewalk 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.
The sidewalk network - specifically the lack of a separated and ADA compliant path that leads from the parking lot to the ice cream stand - was not able to be addressed with last year's grant funds. 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 sidewalk circulation and ADA compliance at Route 66 Park at the Broadway Street Greenway. Costs up to $75,000 will be paid by the CVB on behalf of City.
Project costs that...
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