Board pledges up to $1,000 for Union Street Cemetery improvements; Valpo Rec update draws more than 2,000 survey responses

City staff briefed the board on a neighborhood grant application for Union Street Cemetery presented by Paul Reed (College Hill Neighborhood Association). Daniela said the project proposes a new gate, two pillars and restoration of an uncovered brick sidewalk at the cemetery entrance; the neighborhood grant is pending and the College Hill group estimated they were about $500 short. Daniela asked the board to approve a contingency commitment not to exceed $1,000; Chair moved to approve the commitment and the board voted to do so.

During public comment James Ferguson, vice president of the College Hill Neighborhood Association, thanked the board for the assistance and said the project will provide a functional sidewalk at a nearby school bus stop so children will not have to walk in the street.

Parks staff Tristan also provided a Valpo Rec update: the recreation center project remains in conceptual design, staff reviewed the first interior draft and expected a second draft soon. Tristan said the team had focused recently on drainage, traffic counts and structural integrity rather than interior amenities. The public survey for Valpo Rec remains open through March 1 and had received more than 2,000 responses as of the meeting.