By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
While the City of Decatur is looking at a stretch of riverfront off First St. as a possible site for affordable housing, it’s also taking a look at another riverfront area to possibly transform into a place for play.
That area is along the riverbank off the large parking lot to the north of the Chamber of Commerce building.
The area for possible housing goes south from the southeast corner of the Monroe and First St. intersection.
At its Oct. 1 meeting, city council approved the expenditure of $38,000 to have Engineering Resources, a Fort Wayne consulting firm, produce some riverfront conceptional designs.
It’s the same firm which designed Promenade Park in the Fort.
Mayor Dan Rickord said designs are a “must have” in order to make a serious bid for grants.
Getting a “fun and play area” along that riverfront, with things such as a splash pad, “would be a transformational design for our downtown,” he said. “It would be really cool, but we need to get some designs (first).”
“We are fortunate to have a river to use for something like this,” Councilwoman Abby Wilder remarked.
It was also noted that such an area could bring about an extension of the River Greenway. Its northern trail head sits just across Monroe St. from the proposed park area.
A public hearing on the idea will be scheduled at a later date.
ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds would likely be used along with a grant. The federal ARPA monies must be allocated in 2025 in order for the city to retain the funds.
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