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Council accepts $294,000 in grants for downtown Riverwalk Westside improvements
Summary
The common council voted June 16 to accept two reimbursements—$45,000 from the Federal Recreational Trails Program and $249,000 from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program—and place the funds into the city's existing Riverwalk account for future downtown improvements.
The City of West Bend on June 16 accepted two grant reimbursements totaling $294,000 to support construction and improvements along the downtown Riverwalk Westside. City staff said the funds will be transferred into an existing Riverwalk account and used for targeted repairs and amenities.
Mike (staff member) told the council the two grants cover closely adjacent sections of the Riverwalk between Veterans Avenue and Washington Street (Highway 33). He said the Federal Recreational Trails Program reimbursement is $45,000 and the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program reimbursement is $249,000. Both grant awards were accepted and appropriated to the Riverwalk account by separate resolutions (Nos. 15 and 16), with motions carried during the meeting.
The city described likely uses for the funds as erosion control and riprap replacement around a kayak launch, concrete repairs near the North Bridge, wayfinding and signage for the covered walkway, seating and sculpture elements in coordination with West Bend Friends of Sculpture, and lighting projects tied to a broader downtown lighting master plan. Mike said operational repairs could proceed from the account, while larger projects would return to council for bid and award approvals.
John Fellows, director of development, and city staff said the Riverwalk account already exists and the reimbursements would be transferred into that account after the council vote. Staff emphasized that the larger projects funded by these grants will come back to the council for permission to bid or award; the appropriation action accepted the reimbursements and made them available for planned Riverwalk activity.
Both resolutions passed unanimously. Councilmembers asked no substantive questions during the presentation and staff said they will continue outreach with downtown stakeholders as project details are refined.
