North Aurora wants riverboat grant for downtown

North Aurora is seeking Kane County Riverboat Fund money to put in a water education-and-play feature at a riverside park.

The village board agreed Monday to file an application on behalf of the North Aurora River District Alliance, a nonprofit group trying to spiff up the area around the Fox River in the downtown area.

It is asking for $77,173.32 from the riverboat fund, the full estimated cost of the project.

“Water Wonders” would be a 125-foot stream, with pools for wading and tunnels for climbing, on the east bank of the river, behind the village hall. It would use stormwater runoff from the village hall roof. There would be educational displays about water use and conservation. It would also have a 4,000-gallon cistern, from which village workers could draw water for watering landscaping.

Applications for the riverboat fund are due Dec. 17. The county board determines who gets the grant. This year, it approved more than $2 million in grants. The money comes from a contribution of 7.5 percent of the net income of the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin.

It is to be used for the environment, education and economic development.

The board also agreed to sponsor an application for the project to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. That grant is limited to $50,000. The grant would come from the Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant program.

The board also applied for a riverboat grant to pay for $99,000 worth of work related to remodeling the village hall. The village intends to expand in to the space formerly occupied by the police department. The police department moved to a new building in September.