Mount Vernon advances two major CDBG projects, including Riverside Park upgrades and brick street rebuild

Two new Community Development Block Grant projects were given the go-ahead by Mount Vernon City Council on Monday.

Council approved advertising for bids for a Riverside Park Neighborhood project, as well as a brick street reconstruction project on Burgess and Hamtramck streets.

The Riverside Park Neighborhood project will be broken down into three parts as it covers a wide area of the west end. The first would be creating six new pickleball courts at the end of Walnut Street. City Engineer Brian Balls said the existing pickleball courts would be transitioned into basketball courts.

The second portion would be street improvements on West Sugar Street. Ball said they will narrow and more closely define the roadway, as well as make improvements to the sidewalks.

The third will be sanitary improvements on Sugar Street, as well.

“Neighborhood projects are things neighborhood brings to us. (We had a) long series of public meetings to get to this point. (The projects were) driven by people in the neighborhood,” Ball said.

Ball said they hope to get the park and roadway projects begun by January.

A second CDBG project will include the repair and replacement of brick streets on Burgess and Hamtramck streets between Main and Mulberry streets.

The four-block project will include the picking up of the bricks, replacing the utility lines, putting in a new concrete foundation and then replacing the bricks. The sandstone curbs will be reset or replaced.

“This is a critical infrastructure project. It’s traditionally used on brick streets. We found four blocks in the qualified area, and will completely replace all utilities,” Ball said. “The last notable investment on Burgess street was 1929. I think it’s time for a little reinvestment.”

The project will begin in January and Ball said they will do everything possible to meet the Aug. 1 deadline.

One other new project was also approved to go to out to bid — improvements to the softball fields at Memorial Park.

Quentin Platt, assistant city engineer, said they have developed a concept plan for the softball fields at Memorial. The idea is a clover pattern with four fields around a central concession stand. Because of the current layout of the park and the tennis courts, they will look at building three new fields and keeping the tennis courts where they are.

Platt said they will work on the concession stand first, hoping to have it ready for opening day of the 2026 season. Once the spring/summer season is complete, they will begin work on the fields, hoping to have them ready for spring of 2027.

The main concession stand will have men’s and women’s restrooms, as well as storage space. It will be fully compliant with all health department standards and will include plumbing and a grease trap.

The current fields have 250-foot fences, while the standard for youth and most softball programs is 200 foot, so the fields will be a bit smaller than currently constructed. Platt said they will raise the center where the concession stand is up by about a foot so the fields will drain properly.

Councilman Mel Severns asked about the possibility of turf infields, which would also help with maintenance and allow play to continue after large rains. Platt said they had not discussed that but will talk with the companies doing the work on their feasibility and cost.

In other news, council:

•Approved the Safety-Service Director to select a firm to provide professional design services for the possible construction of slakers/lime silos at the water treatment plant; replace the current treatment system with a sodium hypochlorite system; and a water tower on the southern portion of the city.

•Authorized the use of a portion of the proceeds from bonds for the construction and renovation of the justice center, municipal center and police stations.

•Authorized the SSD to advertise for bids for sludge removal required in 2026-28.

•Had a second reading on advertising for bids for a sanitary project on Mansfield Avenue and Cottage Street.

•Gave a second reading to legislation making appropriations for current expenses.

•Authorized the auditor to pay bills and make supplemental appropriations.

•Gave a first reading on a resolution accepting the donation of property from the Knox County Land Bank.

•Authorized entering into a contract with Specialty Outdoor Services LLC to lease the property at 502 W. Gambier St.

•Gave a second reading on an ordinance establishing wastewater rates for 2026-28.

•Gave a second reading approving the execution of community reinvestment area agreement between the city and Founders Grove LLC.

The next council meeting will be Monday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.