by Kevin Lilly
Pharos-Tribune
LOGANSPORT —
The sound of a jack hammer busting up a sidewalk echoed among the buildings of downtown Logansport on Monday as workers from Leo Brown Construction continued work on Fourth Street.
John Brown, superintendent with the local company, said visitors to downtown can expect construction to last until the end of November, when the Fourth Street corridor project should be completed.
The project, which is funded by a grant of nearly $500,000 from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, calls for replacing sidewalks, curbs and street lighting. Other improvements will be made, as well.
“It’s going to be a lot more landscaping and a new sidewalk on the west side connecting the Little Waterway with the Eel River Run Trail,” Brown said.
Eel River Run will be a trail connecting Little Turtle Waterway with the River Bluff Trail. The trail will be about 2 1/2 miles long and designs for it include two new pedestrian bridges and a park honoring veterans at the north end of Fourth Street.
Deputy mayor Linda Klinck says the Fourth Street corridor project will improve pedestrian traffic areas in the downtown and create the potential for future development.
“We want to make it more attractive and more inviting for pedestrians,” she said.
Besides new trees and other landscaping, the overhead utility wires will be buried and the sidewalk on the west side of Fourth Street will be made wider. Also, a bicycle path and specially designed crosswalks will be installed.
Logan’s Landing, in conjunction with the city of Logansport, attempted several times to secure the project grant but fell short.
Klinck called the misses a blessing because when the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs awarded the funding through its Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Appropriation, the program did not require a match from the city.
Klinck explained that Logansport became eligible for the disaster relief program due to the Fourth Street area suffering from significant flooding and backed up sewers in 2009.
The city continues to seek a grant to purchase the Salvation Army building on Fourth Street.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
