County grant to help develop park in Collinsville
From Illinois Business Journal news services
The City of Collinsville has been chosen to receive a Madison County Environmental Grant to support the development of a new park in the Uptown area.
The grant is a component of the Madison County Sustainability Program, which is overseen by the County Board’s Planning and Development Committee. The Environmental grant is a pilot program designed to assist units of local government with sustainability objectives including solid waste management, air quality
initiatives, energy efficiencies, smart growth and stormwater projects.
The city is currently razing two blighted structures at the entrance to the Uptown area on Main Street in preparation for the development of Collins Park.
The focal point of the park will be the city-owned D.D. Collins House, a Greek revival home built in 1845. The home was built by Judge Daniel Dove Collins, first president of the Collinsville Village Board. The historic home is undergoing complete restoration to return it to its original state.
Once the buildings are razed, the Collins House will be relocated approximately 200 feet toward the corner of Main and Combs and the site will be returned to greenspace, creating a community park. The land remaining after the creation of the park will be marketed to developers for new residential or mixed-use development.
The $15,000 grant will be used to install wall insulation and an Energy Star HVAC system in the home, create an ADA compliant permeable crushed limestone surface plaza and walk, plant buffalo grass ground covering, and purchase rain barrels to collect and store rainwater from the home rooftop for lawn and garden use.
“We are so grateful for the support of the Madison County Board for this project,” said Collinsville Mayor John Miller. “The creation of Collins Park is yet another key element in the city’s effort to revitalize the Uptown area which has seen significant public and private investment in recent years and we’re excited to use environmentally friendly attributes in the development.”
