NIC receives Community Challenge Flagship Grant
The Neillsville Improvement Corporation (NIC) recently received a grant that will enhance the O’Neill Creek Trail. As a recipient of a Community Challenge Flagship Grant from AARP worth $7,000, NIC will transform a brushy area next to the walking/biking trail into a creekside greenspace with an accessible picnic table, bench, and pathway.
“We had applied for this grant a few years ago, made it to the final round, and were unsuccessful. We tried again this year and were successful,” said Deanna Heiman, NIC secretary.
The O’Neill Creek Trail follows O’Neill Creek in downtown Neillsville, stretching from Opelt Park by Buck’s Creekside Bar about 0.75 miles east to East Street (marked as East Seventh Street on Google Maps). The rest area will be about halfway between the trailhead and Willow Street, adjacent to the trail on the north side by the creek. It will provide a scenic place for people to stop and eat a meal, or just take in the view. The ramp leading to the picnic table and bench will be accessible for people with disabilities.
“The idea came about because we had some older residents using the trail on a daily basis, and they told us, ‘It’s kinda tough to make it all the way; it’d be nice to have a little bench to rest if we need to,’” said Heiman. “So we started thinking about, ‘Well, where’d be a nice place to put a bench?’ There is a flat area by the creek and it’s so pretty down there, it seemed like the perfect place.”
The grant was announced June 18, and NIC wasted no time getting to work. Last week Tuesday, NIC volunteers started to clear brush from the area prior to excavation by Opelt Sand and Gravel.
NIC members are excited to make the trail even more user-friendly by adding the rest area. They also have plans to continue enhancing Opelt Park. They plan to add a handrail next to the steps going down to creek, and add a kayak launch that can be reached from the bottom step.
NIC also continues to apply for grants. One of the NIC members is part of the Safe Routes to School group, which is tasked with creating a bike-pedestrian plan for the whole community.
“Our goal is to make the community a safer place to bike and walk as a whole, and we plan to keep moving in that direction… We want to increase the number of safe recreation opportunities,” said Heiman.
Once NIC finishes its improvements to Opelt Park, it plans to turn the park over to the city and move on to its next project. The plan is for trail maintenance to be handed over to some sort of “Friends of the Trail” organization.
NIC has been involved in a number of projects since its inception in 1989, including developing Town Square Park and the gazebo, repaving downtown Hewett Street, vintage light posts, commemorative bricks, donating land for the library expansion, assisting in getting a daycare in Neillsville, the First Impressions Program to plan for improvements, and establishing geocaching locations.
More about the AARP Community Challenge The AARP awarded 218 Community Challenge Flagship Grants this year across all 50 states, prioritizing projects that benefit residents, especially those age 50 and older, in a variety of ways, including creating vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks, and access to other amenities.
