title
PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Department of Planning and Development
Grantee: Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”)
Grantor: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Request: Authorization to accept grant
Purpose: Authorization is sought for the Forest Preserves to accept and enter into an agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for Boat Area Access Development (BAAD) grant funding for development of a canoe launch project at Beaubien Woods in Chicago, Illinois in Cook County.
Grant Amount: $80,000.00
Grant Period: 3/1/2023 (retroactive) - 2/28/2025
Fiscal Impact: Not to exceed $196,000.00 ($150,000.00 estimated match + $46,000 20% contingency). Estimated match in FY2023 $75,000.00 and FY2024 $75,000.00, excluding contingency.
Accounts: Land Improvements 51009.560019, 51010.560019, 51028.560019, 51030.560019, 51031.560019, 51033.560019; and future Construction and Development accounts
Concurrences: The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final grant agreement is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 5
Summary: The Forest Preserves has been awarded a BAAD grant that will support the development of a canoe launch along the Little Calumet River in Beaubien Woods, a 279-acre forest preserve in Chicago in southeast Cook County, Illinois. This project will improve existing boating and paddling facilities and increase awareness of important natural and cultural assets of the Calumet Heritage Area, including the African American Heritage Water Trail. A number of organizations including, the Forest Preserves and Openlands, are partnering with local historians to conduct both walking and paddling tours in this area.
The proposed project includes the rehabilitation of the existing boat ramps and development of an accessible canoe/kayak launch system. In addition, a recently approved IDNR OSLAD grant of $1,150,000.00 (Board Item No. 22-0363 approved September 20, 2022) is also supporting other new visitor amenities including reconstruction of onshore fishing boardwalk, river-edge seating, a new program shelter and interpretive signs, and a comfort station and trail connection to the adjacent neighborhood of Altgeld Gardens. The Forest Preserves will bid reconstruction of the existing boat launch ramps and related accessibility upgrades to pier and dock structures and other land improvements with an estimated total cost of $3,054,000.00.
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