Downtown Galesburg gets $2M grant to enhance area along Simmons Street
GALESBURG — A $2 million state grant will help pay to resurface a street and parking lot, add new sidewalks, lighting and landscaping in downtown Galesburg.
The downtown project will resurface and landscape Parking Lot H (along Simmons Street between Kellogg and Prairie streets), as well as install lighting upgrades and add a covered area that can be used for events or covered parking. The street, sidewalk, and curbing on Simmons Street, between Prairie Street and Kellogg Street, will also be reconstructed, and decorative lighting and landscaping will be added along the street.
“The city is thrilled to be selected for a project which renovates one of the free downtown parking lots, as well as enhances the walkability of downtown with new sidewalks and lighting,” Interim City Manager Wayne Carl said in a news release sent Thursday by the city of Galesburg
If all goes well, residents could access the new area in late summer or fall in 2024, according to Aaron Gavin, city engineer.
Among changes people will see are covered parking area along Simmons Street and at the southeast corner of the block, explained Gavin. Those areas will have a roof over the top with poles for a foundation. The covered areas could be used for groups having events, Gavin says.
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The design will follow the original Downtown Development plan from 2016, which was put together by Massey and Massy architects with input from the Downtown Council and the public. The renovations to Park Plaza were also part of that original plan. Gavin says the plan creates a consistency for downtown public spaces from one block to the next.
The 2016 Downtown Development plan did call for replacing the asphalt in that block of Simmons with bricks, but the city will simply resurface the asphalt with the help of the grant.
More green space will be created between the sidewalk along Simmons Street and the parking lot, as well as green space islands in the lot similar to Park Plaza, Gavin said.
The sidewalks around the parking lot will be replaced as will the trees that are bumping into the sidewalk, Gavin said.
"We still have a lot of design work ahead of us," Gavin said. "The goal is to follow that plan we developed in 2016."
The $2,082,500 grant is part of the Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets Capital program. Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded $106 million in capital grants to 50 commercial corridors and main streets throughout Illinois.
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The total estimated cost for the project is $2.45 million, with the grant paying 85%. The remaining $367,500 will be paid for by the city.
When completed, the downtown will be more accessible through improved parking and walking options, Carl said, making it easier for citizens and visitors to shop, work, and attend events in downtown Galesburg. Incorporating green space into the design improves the aesthetics and reduces our environmental footprint, he added.
“This project is a component of the long-term plan for enhancing downtown Galesburg and was included in the Design Development of Downtown Public Spaces Plan, which the city and Downtown Council completed in 2016,” Carl said. “The plan covers the entire downtown area, and the city has previously implemented other components, including the development of Park Plaza and adjacent parking lot. Further implementing this planned development through this grant project is a wonderful opportunity for Galesburg.”
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Downtown Galesburg gets $2M grant to resurface parking, replace sidewalks
