The first phase of improving and beautifying Simmons Street in downtown Galesburg is about to get underway.
Now the city will apply for a second Rebuild Downtowns and Main Streets capital grant to resurface, streetscape, and landscape additional blocks of Simmons.
The city council authorized using city funds as a 25% local match for the project, which would improve Simmons between Cherry and Prairie and Kellogg and Seminary.
If the $1.5 million grant is approved, the city’s share would be $487,500.
“This would be the second piece of the project,” said City Manager Eric Hanson. “The first is getting ready to start construction soon.”
The city already received a Rebuild Downtowns and Main Streets capital grant in 2022 for improvements on Simmons between Prairie and Kellogg streets and the adjacent city parking lot.
That project is currently out for bid with construction expected to begin later this summer.
With a second grant, Simmons would be improved all the way from Seminary to Cherry.
“Additional improvements to the Simmons Street corridor have been identified as a good candidate for the second round of funding,” Hanson said.
The upgrades will follow the city’s design plan for downtown public spaces adopted in 2016.
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