Madison Township dedicates newly paved exercise trail at Stanton Park - The News-Herald
Madison Township trustees this week hosted an event to recognize people who played key roles in an improvement project at Bill Stanton Community Park.
Trustees formally thanked two residents and some Lake County leaders for providing a large portion of funding to pave the park’s exercise trail. A brief ceremony to dedicate the path was held on May 29 at Stanton Park, which is located at 5585 Chapel Road.
The 0.8-mile path at the park was paved with asphalt in late April. Previously, the trail’s surface was composed of asphalt grindings.
Trustee Kenneth Gauntner Jr. described the resurfacing of the trail as “a really great project.”
“It’s something I’ve gotten nothing but positive comments about from the people of our community,” he said.
Gauntner was joined at the ceremony by fellow Trustee Peter Wayman. Trustee Max Anderson Jr. was unable to attend because of an urgent personal matter.
Although the trail had grown in popularity since it was installed about four years ago, many residents had asked trustees to pave the path and make it smoother.
Last last year, the township took the initial step to fund the resurfacing of the trail by applying for a federal Community Development Block Grant.
Madison Township submitted its application to the Lake County Office of Planning and Community Development. This office administers the CDBG program, which allows for use of federal funds for eligible projects that benefit people with low and moderate incomes; eliminate blight conditions; permit access for people with disabilities; and address urgent community development and infrastructure needs.
Lake County commissioners then approve a list of CDBG recipients each year, specifying what projects or activities will be funded with their grants.
Madison Township was awarded a $70,000 grant to put toward asphalt resurfacing of the Stanton Park exercise trail. To receive the grant, the township had to supply local matching funds of $30,000.
The township had budgeted $110,000 for the trail resurfacing, based on an engineer’s estimate. Although that sum was slightly larger than the combined CDBG and local match, Dr. Robert and Candace Barr donated $15,000 toward the cost.
Barr is a podiatrist whose office is in Madison Village, and he and his wife live next door to Stanton Park.
During a Dec. 15 trustees meeting, Barr explained his motivation for making a financial contribution toward paving the exercise trail.
As a next-door neighbor to the park, the doctor said he witnessed how the exercise trail began to attract many people of all ages. However, with his background as a podiatrist, Barr also noticed one of the path’s shortcomings.
“The trail was only packed crushed asphalt at that time, and I could see that it was somewhat difficult for people who were not steady on their lower extremities and had balance issues,” he said, at the Dec. 15 meeting. Topping the trail with a new asphalt surface would be a tremendous improvement to people with mobility difficulties, he noted.
So the township ended up with a $110,000 funding package for the trail project, consisting of the $70,000 Community Development Block Grant; $25,000 in township funds; and the $15,000 donation from the Barrs.
Trustees, at their Feb. 13 meeting, accepted a bid from Carron Asphalt Paving of Solon to resurface the trail for $87,467. At the May 29 dedication ceremony, Dr. Barr reflected on the combined effort that produced a paved exercise trail at the park.
“Credit is due to all those who worked on the planning and funding, and actual physical workers who made this project come true,” he said.
Barr said making a financial contribution toward the trail was a way for him and his wife to give back to the Madison community.
“This paved path is for the benefit of all people now and many years to come,” he said.
Gauntner thanked the Barrs for their donation, adding he personally understands how the paved trail will make it easier for many people to exercise.
“I have ankle issues, and the (old trail) was just difficult to walk on,” Gauntner said. “It was just kind of chunks of asphalt, and at times, it was very hard on the ankles. The paving of it has really helped.”
Lake County was represented at the ceremony by Rhea Benton, assistant director of the county Planning and Development Office; and Commissioners Richard Regovich and John Hamercheck.
Gauntner said Benton was involved with the CDBG application filed by the township, while the Board of Commissioners, which includes John Plecnik, ultimately awarded the $70,000 grant for the trail paving endeavor.
Hamercheck said the grant approval was an example of how commissioners help Lake County communities with “funding gap filling.” A resident of nearby Madison Village, Hamercheck applauded trustees for the many improvements they’ve made to Stanton Park in recent years.
“This is one of Lake County’s destinations, and thank you for all that you’ve developed it into,” he said.