[OCT. 12, 2002]  KANKAKEE — Gov. George Ryan joined local officials from the Kankakee community on Wednesday to break ground on a new aquatic center and also announced funding for an ice rink and fitness center. Illinois FIRST funds totaling $12.5 million will be used to finance the projects — $5.9 million for the aquatic center and $6.6 million for the new ice rink.

"What we are doing here today, we have done in communities all across Illinois, thanks to Illinois FIRST," Gov. Ryan said. "This community has gone without an outdoor swimming facility since closing its only outdoor public pool in 1989."

The Kankakee Valley Park District received a $5.9 million Illinois FIRST grant to build the new aquatic facility, which will be located at River Road Park.

The aquatic center will be able to serve up to 1,500 visitors at a time, and because of its size and uniqueness it is expected to attract people from throughout Kankakee and Iroquois counties. The aquatic center will offer a large pool area with zero depth entry, colorful fountains and sprays, water slides, sand play areas, grass sunning areas, shaded canopies, and a concession and picnic area.

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The governor also announced a $6.6 million Illinois FIRST grant for a new Kankakee Valley Park District Ice Rink and Fitness Center, to be built near the Kankakee Community College.

"The Kankakee community will have the ability to form recreational hockey leagues for both children and adults and provide a location for figure skating or speed skating," the governor said. "Because this new facility will be located adjacent to the community college, college students will be able to use a new, state-of-the-art facility as well."

The facility will include one sheet of ice, locker rooms, laundry facilities, maintenance storage area, scoreboard, ticket office, concession area and a 2,000-square-foot fitness center.

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

[OCT. 12, 2002]  KANKAKEE — Gov. George Ryan joined Kankakee officials Wednesday in announcing that $3.5 million from Illinois FIRST has been set aside for two infrastructure improvements in the city. Kankakee will receive $500,000 to fund the rehabilitation of the Fifth Avenue bridge and $3 million for upgrading the city’s sewer system.

The Fifth Avenue bridge has been determined to be in a condition that fails to meet state standards and now must be replaced. The superstructure, abutments and wing walls are showing severe deterioration. An estimated 15,000 vehicles per day cross the bridge.

"Because of the large amount of traffic that passes over the bridge every day, it is becoming unsafe for Kankakee residents," Gov. Ryan said. "The construction may be a little bit of an inconvenience at first, but the benefit of having a safe structure will far outweigh any inconvenience."

Illinois FIRST will provide $500,000 for the bridge rehabilitation. The Illinois Department of Transportation has secured $200,000 through the federal Beneficial Use Reconnaissance Program, and Kankakee County will provide $100,000 in local matching funds.

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The city of Kankakee operates more than 200 miles of sanitary and storm sewers. Since 1975 the city has spent more than $10 million upgrading and repairing the sewers to protect public health and safety, eliminating sanitary sewer overflows into the Kankakee River. However, the city has identified 65 trouble spots that need to excavated and repaired.

"When the project is complete, it will eliminate backup of sewage into homes and business," Gov. Ryan said. "We estimate that nearly 28,000 residents will benefit directly from this project."

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

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