Streator city manager praises volunteers making Marilla Park project possible

Work on the Marilla Park pond in Streator is proceeding at a fast pace thanks to volunteers from the International Union of Operating Engineers 150.

Public Works Director Larry Hake told the Streator Park Board during its meeting Tuesday night that the dirt has been dredged and work will continue through the rest of the week.

“They’ve got all the dirt dredged out now, and the rest of the week they’ll be getting after the rest of it,” Hake said. “Then we’ll be getting the sides seeded.”

City Manager David Plyman said the project would have cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars to complete were it not for the volunteers.

“About four years ago, Lance Yednock, our state representative, although this was before he was in office, made arrangements with members of the union to volunteer labor and equipment to dredge out this pond,” Plyman said. “We sit here and talk about grant dollars and volunteer labor – this is a fantastic improvement that may not have gotten done otherwise.”

Plyman said the city plans to arrange a ribbon cutting event once the project is completed.

“This is an opportunity for grandpa to take the kids fishing and an opportunity to get outdoors, and it’s being done through volunteers,” Plyman said. “These are talented guys; it’s amazing how quickly they’ve been able to do this.”

Work on the project started at the end of June.

In another matter, Nora Sedlock addressed the Park Board about Marilla Park erosion issues. Sedlock’s solution involves getting rid of the concrete barricades that were meant to stop hillside erosion, but instead sit in the creek bed. She proposed the alternative of using gabions, which are stone-filled baskets that allow water to flow through, but prevent erosion.

Sedlock said this would help make the dredging efforts last as long as possible.

After the dredging is completed, the Lions Club plans to add a 10-by-10-foot, handicapped-accessible fishing dock that floats on the water. This project was proposed in 2017, but the club had to wait for the pond to be dredged.