The Winamac Park Board’s application for grant funding for Town Park upgrades appears to have gotten state approval. The town hasn’t officially received an award letter, but DNR officials told Park Board Secretary Kim Burke that the application is on the state-approved list.
It still has to go through a federal approval process before the funding is awarded, though. Burke told the park board Thursday that it will be at least March before the town gets a final answer.
The park board has applied for a Land and Water Conservation Fund matching grant to help pay for the replacement of the park’s main restrooms and get new equipment for the toddler playground. The application also contained various smaller items, including a permanent cornhole court, frisbee golf equipment, new basketball backboards, and a new bench.
Going forward, Burke said she, park board member and town manager Brad Zellers, and Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Berger will attend a process meeting with DNR officials on November 13. In the meantime, the town can start the process of getting the required historical preservation clearance, which is expected to take at least 30 days.
Additionally, board members discussed the possibility of starting preparations for the restroom portion of the project by getting demolition bids for the old restrooms. But Burke pointed out that demolition was included in the grant application, so it would have to wait for potential approval.
Board members had previously agreed to hold off on rebidding the action constructions of the restrooms until they know the final result of the grant application.
