East Riverwalk to begin

The old saying “better late than never” can certainly apply to the anticipated start of Kankakee’s East Riverwalk.

A project discussed, designed and engineered since the early days of then-Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong’s tenure, which began in 2017, is finally set to begin.

The $5,004,315 park-like project on a 1-acre property at the southeast corner of East River Street and South Schuyler Avenue is slated for a Jan. 22 groundbreaking ceremony, Mayor Chris Curtis confirmed.

The city is still seeking to raising an additional $250,000 through the Kankakee Riverfront Society, the not-for-profit fundraising arm of the development, said Barbi Brewer-Watson, Kankakee’s Economic & Community Development Agency executive director.

However, Curtis, who vowed not to start construction until all federal and state funds were in place, said the $1.83 million in grants — led by the state’s $600,000 OSLAD (Open Space Land Acquisition and Development) grant have all been approved and secured.

Just this past week, construction fencing was placed around the development area, meaning as winter weather allows Piggush-Simoneau Inc., the lowest bidding of three construction companies which sought the project, will begin site work.

In addition to grants, the project is gaining funding through the Riverfront Tax Increment Financing District, created about five years ago, and the city’s Environmental Services Utility fund, which targets infrastructure upgrades.

Here is the funding breakdown to date:

• $850,000 — state grants;

• $522,500 — local tourism grants;

• $940,000 — Riverfront TIF;

• $475,000 — federal grant;

• $1.15 million — ESU infrastructure;

• $421,000 — private giving;

• $421,800 — city’s capital projects fund;

• $246,500 — yet to be raised.

With the project slated to begin, the start is behind schedule. The city had hoped to have work well underway at this point.

The wait for grant funding took somewhat longer, and there is the issue of the endangered river mussels.

The river mussels have proven to be quite an obstacle, and those aquatic creatures are still being dealt with, Curtis said.

He said the planned opening of the park, which had been targeted for the last half of July to coincide with the annual Merchant Street MusicFest, will not happen, and the chief roadblock is the endangered mussels.

Curtis said due to Illinois Department of Natural Resources regulations, the mussels cannot be disturbed until the river water temperature reaches a level of 55 degrees. He said that pushed that process back.

He does remain confident the project will be completed before the end of 2025 arrives.

There is still much work which can be done and the sooner work begins, obviously the better.

He said parking lot and infrastructure can begin as weather allows.

“Every minute counts,” Curtis said.

https://daily-journal.com/news/local/kankakee/east-riverwalk-to-begin/article_9b427332-ca11-11ef-bf9e-fb087552f0bf.html