Ten roads in the northern part of Knox are set to be resurfaced, with funding from the most recent round of INDOT’s Community Crossings program. Last month, Knox was awarded more than $302,000 to cover 75 percent of the cost of approved projects.
Streets to be resurfaced include:
- Water Street from U.S. 35 to Cleveland Street
- Prettyman Street from Water Street to Bender Street
- Bender Street from U.S. 35 to Prettyman Street
- Cleveland Street from Water Street to 489 feet south of Lake Street
- Pacific Avenue from County Road 300 East to 185 feet east of County Road 250 East
- Fisher Street from Clark Street to Bozarth Street
- Lewis Street from Portland Street to Roosevelt Road
- Lambert Street from Fisher Street to 120 feet east of Portland Street
- Bozarth Street from Portland Street to Fisher Street
- Portland Street from Washington Street to Clark Street
The matching grant funds will also help pay for road improvements in Wythogan Park. The driveway connecting U.S. 35 to Bridge Street, officially known as Parkway Drive, is being upgraded with additional parking.
Mayor Dennis Estok recently told the city council that part of the parking area isn’t eligible for Community Crossings money, and completing the entire project will require additional funding. Council members agreed to commit up to $60,000 using a combination of Economic Development Income Tax, TIF, and Riverboat funds.
They also agreed to provide about $20,000 toward the cost of a new shelter near the park’s splash pad. Estok explained that the rest of the cost will come out of the money Constellation of Starke got for being a finalist region in the 2019 Stellar Communities Designation Program. “That shelter is going to be not your typical shelter that we put up,” Estok told council members. “It comes in a kit. It’s got more of a design to it. The poles are going to be metal. It’s a good-looking shelter. We’re going to tear the old one down and get it out of there and expand that parking lot.”
Estok hopes to have that work done by the spring.
