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From a dump to a park. That’s the direction some citizens will be taking with the area commonly known as the 23rd Street Dumps in converting it into the 23rd Street Bike Park.
Pittsburg City Commissioners approved a request from the Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department Tuesday night to get started with the renovation, which will be handled by a group of volunteers at no cost to the city.
John Harrison, who represented the citizen group, said the goal for Phase I of the project would be to get the current trails out there rideable again. Harrison said several things prohibited riders from enjoying the now closed-off area, including fallen branches and overgrown plants.
Future phases would include adding skills areas for bikers of all ability levels where they would be able to jump, grind and hone their biking skills. Other future plans include moving the Pittsburg Skate Park out to the area.
Harrison also said the group could be aided by grant money, which would come from private, not-for-profit biking groups, without using taxpayer money.
In other news, Pittsburg City Commissioners:
• heard from Crawford County Commissioner Ralph McGeorge, who asked city commissioners to approve a letter of support for Rep. Julie Menghini’s gaming bill. McGeorge said Menghini, D-Pittsburg, was on the right track, and added that, if approved, the bill would bring revenue and jobs to the area.
John Van Gorden, interim Pittsburg City Manager, said city staff would work on one.
• approved the only bid, submitted by Heckert Construction Co., Inc, of Pittsburg, for the North Broadway Resurfacing Project, which will run from Eighth and Broadway to 11th and Broadway. The bid was for $167,873.89.
• approved vacating a portion of the east-west alley beginning at the east right-of-way line of Broadway and extending east 142 feet to the west line of that north south alley at Pittsburg State University. Lura Patrick asked the commission to deny the vacation.
• approved accepting the former National Guard Armory property, located at 1506 N. Walnut. The vote transferred the ownership of the property to the city of Pittsburg.
• approved quotes received for the purchase of hardware, support and professional services for the security infrastructure at the new Law Enforcement Center. Those quotes include: Alexander Open Systems, in the amount of $43,868.85; CDWG, Inc., in the amount of $1,000; Dell, Inc., in the amount of $3,000; and Washington Electronics, in the amount of $2,100.00, for a total purchase price of $49,968.85.
• approved a professional services agreement with Williams Spurgeon, Kuhl and Freshnock Architects, Inc., for additional design services associated with adding a new east entrance to the Pittsburg Public Library. The cost of those design services are estimated at $5,750, which will be covered by the Library Board.
• approved repairing the bucket truck that is used throughout the city to trim and remove trees.
• heard from Norma Tannehill, who asked that city staff look at trimming trees and branches that cover street signs. She also asked if the city could look at increasing the lettering on the street signs from four inches to six inches for better readability. Van Gorden said city staff would look into it.
Kevin Flaherty can be reached at kevin.flaherty@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 Ext. 134.
From a dump to a park. That’s the direction some citizens will be taking with the area commonly known as the 23rd Street Dumps in converting it into the 23rd Street Bike Park.
Pittsburg City Commissioners approved a request from the Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department Tuesday night to get started with the renovation, which will be handled by a group of volunteers at no cost to the city.
John Harrison, who represented the citizen group, said the goal for Phase I of the project would be to get the current trails out there rideable again. Harrison said several things prohibited riders from enjoying the now closed-off area, including fallen branches and overgrown plants.
Future phases would include adding skills areas for bikers of all ability levels where they would be able to jump, grind and hone their biking skills. Other future plans include moving the Pittsburg Skate Park out to the area.
Harrison also said the group could be aided by grant money, which would come from private, not-for-profit biking groups, without using taxpayer money.
In other news, Pittsburg City Commissioners:
• heard from Crawford County Commissioner Ralph McGeorge, who asked city commissioners to approve a letter of support for Rep. Julie Menghini’s gaming bill. McGeorge said Menghini, D-Pittsburg, was on the right track, and added that, if approved, the bill would bring revenue and jobs to the area.
John Van Gorden, interim Pittsburg City Manager, said city staff would work on one.
• approved the only bid, submitted by Heckert Construction Co., Inc, of Pittsburg, for the North Broadway Resurfacing Project, which will run from Eighth and Broadway to 11th and Broadway. The bid was for $167,873.89.
• approved vacating a portion of the east-west alley beginning at the east right-of-way line of Broadway and extending east 142 feet to the west line of that north south alley at Pittsburg State University. Lura Patrick asked the commission to deny the vacation.
• approved accepting the former National Guard Armory property, located at 1506 N. Walnut. The vote transferred the ownership of the property to the city of Pittsburg.
• approved quotes received for the purchase of hardware, support and professional services for the security infrastructure at the new Law Enforcement Center. Those quotes include: Alexander Open Systems, in the amount of $43,868.85; CDWG, Inc., in the amount of $1,000; Dell, Inc., in the amount of $3,000; and Washington Electronics, in the amount of $2,100.00, for a total purchase price of $49,968.85.
• approved a professional services agreement with Williams Spurgeon, Kuhl and Freshnock Architects, Inc., for additional design services associated with adding a new east entrance to the Pittsburg Public Library. The cost of those design services are estimated at $5,750, which will be covered by the Library Board.
• approved repairing the bucket truck that is used throughout the city to trim and remove trees.
• heard from Norma Tannehill, who asked that city staff look at trimming trees and branches that cover street signs. She also asked if the city could look at increasing the lettering on the street signs from four inches to six inches for better readability. Van Gorden said city staff would look into it.
Kevin Flaherty can be reached at kevin.flaherty@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 Ext. 134.
