OUR PLACE
The Knowles Nelson Grant submission is approved, but that does not mean the city is getting the money.
The permission to submit was approved by the council, but the approval of the grant itself will rest in the hands of the decision-makers who have the money. That’s the board or approval committee of the Knowles Nelson organization. Last week, at the city council meeting, the Lake Geneva Conservancy’s request for approval to submit the grant application was finally approved. This has been a long time coming. Last year the Geneva Lake Conservancy worked with the city to pursue grant funding to help with a trail project on the Hillmoor property.
The grant was not accepted because the city had not committed to matching funds. The city has now approved the matching funds and the application is good to go. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $485,000; the city is committed to match $242,500. Each year there is less funding remaining and the process becomes more competitive between municipalities.
Currently, the Knowles Nelson Program is up for reauthorization in 2025 but the deadline for application submission is May 1, 2024. Lake Geneva just met the mark. The GLC is hoping that once the grant is awarded the wetland area can be transformed with safe walkable trails for the community to enjoy. Kishwaukee Nature Conservancy is a great example of what Hillmoor wetlands could be. The Hillmoor AD Hoc committee has also approved what the GLC is trying to do.
The purpose of the grant is to install public hiking trails that are safe and scenic. With the grant, the city could create three and a half miles of trails. This is what ninety percent of the public asked for during the Hillmoor public input meetings. In addition, the grant would fund a bridge over the White River and a landscape architect to recommend landscaping that will add beauty and create function to the land. The city has not yet made a master plan for the property but has had a lot of thoughts and input on the issue. The one thing most agree on is that whatever is done the result needs to be granted and shared by all.
Persons of the Week
Congratulations to Mary Jo Fesenmaier and Sherri Ames who were officially sworn into office Tuesday night.
