St. Charles to improve Pottawatomie Park

St. Charles officials plan to use a mix of city funds and local donations to pay for $52,000 in improvements to an educational children's area at Pottawatomie Park.

The plan stems from an agreement the city made with the St. Charles Park District several years ago to eventually update the feature, which is a collection of miniature buildings known as Safety Town. The city agreed to pay for the improvements in exchange for the district's permission to move Safety Town off the corner of State and First avenues to make way for a parking lot, and relocate it in the park, 8 North Ave.

Assistant Public Works Director Richard Gallas said at a city committee meeting Monday that his office budgeted $30,000 this year for the improvements, and it plans to ask community groups and businesses to sponsor the remaining $22,000.

All the details haven't been worked out yet, he said, but sponsorships might allow donors to advertise on the buildings, which stand roughly 4 feet or 5 feet tall.

"Really, we're just gauging interest (from potential sponsors) at this point," he said.

Safety Town is intended to look like a miniature version of the city, Gallas said. It's used to teach children about safely crossing the street and what to do in case of a fire, among other things.

The city plans to begin tearing down the old feature -- now worn and in need of repair -- in two weeks. About six new buildings should go up by spring, Gallas said.

The new buildings will be made of plywood, painted, insulated and fire resistant.

For information about sponsorships, call Gallas at (630) 377-4420.