Dearborn County Council OKs park board request to submit Stellar Pathways application contingent on funds raised by Aug. 1

Bright Meadows Park organizers told the Dearborn County Council Wednesday they will submit an application to the state Stellar Pathways program seeking up to $1 million in matching funds, and asked the council to commit county money as part of that match.

The council approved the application on the condition that any county commitment be limited to the amount of cash actually on hand by the application deadline of Aug. 1, 2025. Council members also approved a $130,000 release from the park board’s riverboat account (Fund 11-79) to be included in the match; a separate request for $133,333 from county general failed.

Why it matters: Stellar Pathways matches local funds 1-to-1, so each dollar the county and local donors raise would unlock an equal amount of state funds. Park supporters said assembling $1 million locally would leverage the state’s $1 million to create a roughly $2 million project that could expand trails, add inclusive playground equipment, improve ADA accessibility, reconfigure entrances and parking, and add fitness elements and an amphitheater.

Park board presenters said current pledged funds total about $320,000 made up of $50,000 from the Dearborn County Community Foundation, $50,000 from the Donovan family, $120,000 already in park fund 11-79, $100,000 pledged by the Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission, and an additional $30,000 the park board voted to request from the county. The park board asked the council to consider splitting the remaining roughly $400,000 over three years (2025–2027) if necessary while the board continues fundraising.

Council discussion focused on the county’s ability to legally commit funds only for the current year and on the application deadline. The council’s auditor and county staff advised that the county can approve appropriations for 2025 cash on hand and include a contingency clause in the grant application that ties the county commitment to funds actually raised by Aug. 1, 2025; future-year commitments (2026–2027) cannot be encumbered today.

The council vote on the riverboat fund release (Fund 11-79) passed. The $133,333 request from county general failed on a separate vote. Later the council approved language to permit the grant application to go forward with the condition that the county’s participation be limited to cash secured by Aug. 1; that motion passed on a roll-call vote.

The park’s presenters and council members discussed grant mechanics and timing: Stellar awards are reimbursable and typically paid in draws as project milestones are completed, and state review can include a federal review step that may take months to a year. The park board and its consultant will refine a master plan and cost estimates over the coming weeks; staff indicated a more detailed cost estimate should be available by July so the park board can prioritize features for the application.

The council also accepted a separate $100,000 donation from the Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission to the park board to be used toward the Stellar match. Park representatives said they will continue fundraising, pursue additional grants (including trail grants of up to about $70,000), and coordinate with community groups for private donations.

What’s next: The park board will report back with updated fundraising totals prior to the application deadline; the council’s approval for the application is expressly contingent on the cash-in-hand figure on Aug. 1, 2025.