By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
State officials have announced that Decatur is now eligible for a $50,000 grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program.,
Local residents, however, will have to raise $50,000 in a capital campaign by August 5 in order to receive the IHCDA matching grant.
All proceeds will go to the city’s three-pronged Kekionga Project: a) to build a dog park; b) stock the pond near the dog park; and c) improve the co-ed softball diamond in Kekionga Park to the north of the dog park area.
“The addition of a dog park and a revitalized softball field will increase access to recreation, promote healthy lifestyles and improve the overall quality of life in Decatur,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, in making the announcement .”This project will bring immediate positive change to Adams County and will have a lasting impact on all residents.”
The improvements, she added, “will increase opportunities for the community to enjoy the outdoor space.”
“I am thrilled to have the assistance of the IHCDA with our crowdfunding campaign for the Kekionga Project,” said Decatur Mayor Dan Rickord in a news release. “This transformative project has amenities for people of all ages.
“Whether you are looking for an adult softball league to join, a safe place to let your dog run (a portion of which has been erected; see photo), or a beautiful lake to take your children fishing, Kekionga Park will be the place to go.”
A capital campaign kickoff event is a golf cart parade scheduled for Saturday, June 17. Registration is $20 per cart and can be made by contacting Community Coordinator Jamie Gephart, (260) 7171, or by using jgephart@decaturin.org.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Riverside Center and wind up on Second St. where Downtown Decatur Days are being held.
