Mayor Corey Novotney has called for a workshop to be held Tuesday, June 30, 5:15 p.m. at city hall.

The purpose of the workshop will be to finalize plans for a grant application for improvements to City Park.

City Engineer Terris Cates has guided the city through grant applications in the past. He has agreed to be present at the workshop for consultation.

In recent months, aldermen have discussed several park upgrades they would like to see. These include building a regulation size soccer field, building permanent rest rooms on the east side of the lake,  creating a pickle  ball court and adding additional parking.

There are improvements that are needed in Legion Park also, but Cates advised the board they should focus on one park to increase their odds at obtaining a grant.

Once the aldermen identify the projects they would like to accomplish with grant funds, then the hard work begins.

Estimated project costs will need to be nailed down. Park usage should be documented. City statistics such as population, median income, geographical data will need to be determined. The city’s financial data will need to be documented. Letters of support from the community will need to be obtained.

There is much to do in just a few months time.

Receiving a grant would enable the city to take on some major upgrades at City Park, but is not as though the park has been neglected.

In the past year or two, with help from the community, the park has seen several improvements. There is a new sign and landscaping at the entrance. A new playground has been installed near the large ball field. A frog pond has been built near the almost-new hiking trail.

With an annual budget of around $35,000–that must stretch to include grass cutting in both parks– the city has done what they can to stretch their limited resources.

Receiving a grant could allow the city to do even more to improve a park that sees heavy use and is growing even more popular.