Historic Park Advisory Committee

Historic Park Committee Minutes Monday, March 11, 2019 Old Freight Room of Main Street Offices, Carbondale, Illinois 6:00 PM Introduction and roll call: Mr. Grant called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Members present: Bruce Ashby, Kevin Clark, Tom Grant-Chair, Gary Martin, Ed Van Awken, and John Williams Member Absent: April McCreary Guest: Sara Eynon, Carbondale Garden Study Club In observance of Arbor Day, Ms. Eynon expressed her group would like to plant a tree on the Founders Park property. Ms. Eynon further expressed that the Carbondale Garden Study Club would like to initiate a tradition of planting a single tree, at Founders Park, every Arbor Day. The preference is for a native species of trees. The first tree planted will be a Northern Red Oak. The planting of the tree will be the first addition to the Park. Mark McDaniel, the City’s Arborist, has given the preliminary go ahead on this initiative; and connected Ms. Eynon with Mr. Grant. The Arbor Day event will tentatively take place on Friday, April 26. The planting will create a great opportunity to further inform the community of things to come. The tree will be planted on the north side of the property on College Street between Marion and Jefferson Street on the Park side. A reminder was given to City staff to conduct a Julie prior to the intended planting ceremony on Arbor Day. Ms. Eynon also stated that the Carbondale Garden Study Club would be willing to plant and maintain butterfly and pollinator habitat flowerbeds. Grant Funding Opportunity: Mr. Grant spoke about the February 22 teleconference call that he and Mr. Clark participated in with Judy Bauer and Mary Jo Weller of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The meeting focused on the steps to secure grant funding from IDNR, which consists of a 50:50 match up to $450,000 for eligible projects. The grant funding can be used for: assistance in securing property, which the City has already acquired; a pavilion, a bandshell, landscaping, and infrastructure. However, the funds cannot be used for historic markers. That aspect of the development would fall on the Park’s own resources. The application has to be submitted by May 1, 2019. Anything that is constructed prior to the awarding of funds will not be covered under the grant. Given the close deadline for the application, the Subcommittee will begin 1 working on the various elements for the grant; and submit an application in May 2020. The subcommittee’s plan is to finish developing the promotional brochure for the Park; and then submit a proposal to City Council to create a line item, which will allow for the collection of funds to initiate the Parks development. Other points of discussion: The subcommittee also discussed erecting a temporary flagpole to conduct a flag raising ceremony. 2