Staff outlines Nature at the Confluence park plan and $750,000 congressional aid for lift station
March 30, 2026 | South Beloit, Winnebago County, Illinois
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City staff reported Jan. 20 that work on the Nature at the Confluence park is set to begin in phases after the city was awarded a federal cleanup grant and a matching allocation that will fund early remediation and design work.
Sonia told the council the record shows a federal cleanup grant of about $1.44 million to remove contaminated soils at the former Dwey station and that the city has identified roughly $600,000 in matching funds for the next steps of park design and development. "It is probably now close to a $5 million park development over time," Sonia said, and she cautioned residents that the grant and match will fund initial phases but not complete the entire park.
Sonia also reported that congressional funds of $750,000 that had been promised from Representative Darren LeHood's discretionary allocation were removed when the federal budget stalled but have been resubmitted and are now reflected as awarded again pending the federal budget process; the city has designated those funds for a long-planned lift station project. The lift-station estimate, Sonia said, has increased from earlier estimates of roughly $3 million to $5 million and is now about $7.7 million, and staff said the city intends to apply for a low-interest loan to cover remaining costs.
Council members asked clarifying questions about timing and funding sources; staff said the EPA cleanup portion and matching funds are intended to be spent over the next two years with site remediation starting as soon as contracts and procurement actions proceed. Staff emphasized that the cleanup grant is a specific remediation award and that public expectations should be managed about the scope of what the grant will accomplish in the near term.
No formal council action was required on the grants during the meeting; staff said public-facing materials (a press release/PSA) would be posted to explain what the city received and what to expect in coming quarters.
Sonia told the council the record shows a federal cleanup grant of about $1.44 million to remove contaminated soils at the former Dwey station and that the city has identified roughly $600,000 in matching funds for the next steps of park design and development. "It is probably now close to a $5 million park development over time," Sonia said, and she cautioned residents that the grant and match will fund initial phases but not complete the entire park.
Sonia also reported that congressional funds of $750,000 that had been promised from Representative Darren LeHood's discretionary allocation were removed when the federal budget stalled but have been resubmitted and are now reflected as awarded again pending the federal budget process; the city has designated those funds for a long-planned lift station project. The lift-station estimate, Sonia said, has increased from earlier estimates of roughly $3 million to $5 million and is now about $7.7 million, and staff said the city intends to apply for a low-interest loan to cover remaining costs.
Council members asked clarifying questions about timing and funding sources; staff said the EPA cleanup portion and matching funds are intended to be spent over the next two years with site remediation starting as soon as contracts and procurement actions proceed. Staff emphasized that the cleanup grant is a specific remediation award and that public expectations should be managed about the scope of what the grant will accomplish in the near term.
No formal council action was required on the grants during the meeting; staff said public-facing materials (a press release/PSA) would be posted to explain what the city received and what to expect in coming quarters.
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