The Frankfort City Council moved one step closer to making the Prairie Creek Park project a reality Monday night by passing the second reading of an amended version of an ordinance issuing bonds for the project.
What this amended version does is create a redevelopment authority to help keep interest rates as low as possible.
“This is very similar to the Old Stoney Building Corporation that had to be created in order to issue bonds,” said Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes. “This is just a legal mechanism that needed to be created. The redevelopment authority is now created and it will be a three member board.”
McBarnes added the city is now one meeting away from making this project a reality, which should happen at the council’s next meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 10.
The project did receive some more financial backing as John Wampler donated $10,000 to the project. McBarnes also announced that another donation would be forthcoming at 9 a.m. Wednesday at NHK Seating.
“It’s unbelievable the amount of private money being raised for this project,” said McBarnes. “It just shows the community buy in and it makes this project work. It makes it financially feasible for the city to perform a project of this magnitude.”
One of the criticisms of this project has been the overall state of the six parks in the City of Frankfort. Frankfort Parks Superintendent Travis Sheets announced a five points of emphasis to help take care of the parks. Also, two other projects were announced to help with Third Street Park and Circle Park.
The five items that Sheets talked about were project management, capital improvement plans, public-private partnerships, preventive maintenance plan and community involvement.
“We have to be innovative and intentional with our parks,” said Sheets.