Gold Coast Grows with Grants

May 22nd, 2011 by PJ

Many projects in the Gold Coast-Hamburg Historic District would never have reached fruition without the help of grants from various sources.  These grants have been welcomed and have run the financial gamut from $150 to $60,000.  Many of the grant projects have nudged other grant sources into matching funds.  The single largest contributor is thanks to the Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) and the results of their generosity is seen in the Gold Coast Park’s gazebo and stone wall, the Western Ave. Steps railing, and the decorative lights on Gaines St.  Since the instigation of the City of Davenport’s Community Partnership Program (CPP) grant program four years ago, the GC&HHDA has been the recipient of two grants that have also purchased and installed the decorative  LED lights on Gaines St.

Other grants have been awarded thanks to Alderman’s Beautification Funds, Quad City Homebuilders, Tri-City Garden Club and United Neighbors.  These are such projects as tree and flower plantings, walkways, the Western Ave. entry and other like projects.  Presently the GC&HHDA is applying for grant money for improvements to the Scott St. Steps area that will be similar to Western Ave.

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Posted in News, Projects |

Gold Coast Park & Western Ave. Steps

March 9th, 2011 by PJ

GCPark-2Western archThe GC-HHDA Beautification Committee with Terry Genz as Chair has set dates for the spring clean up of the Gold Coast Park and the Western Ave. Steps. Park clean up will be the morning of April 20, 2013 and Western Ave. Steps on June 8, 2013. Contact [email protected] for details.
The Gold Coast Park was deeded to the Association by the City of Davenport, transformed from deteriorating apartment houses that burned in the 1990’s to an area that now boasts a gazebo, retaining wall, park benches, trees and plantings that have all been projects of the Gold Coast. This little pocket park on the 700 block of Ripley St. is one of the many jewels of this historic neighborhood.
The Western Ave. Steps are owned by the City of Davenport but have long been maintained by the GC-HHDA. Glorious golden lilies bloom all along the steps in the summer, and the area also contains decorative iron railings, an arched entry, park bench, an educational kiosk and other plantings. A very steep hillside, the area has always been a pedestrian walkway and has never been opened to vehicular traffic.

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Posted in Events |

Gaines Streetscaping Project

February 18th, 2011 by PJ

Neighbors and Volunteers Plant Flowers

The Edmund Gaines Group (EGG) is a group of representatives from non profits, businesses, government and other interested parties that was formed over 4 years ago for the express purpose of streetscaping Gaines St. from the Mississippi River to West Locust St. Members of the GC&HHDA are vital representatives of this group and the Association has written grants to provide funding for the project.
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New lighting now proudly grace a portion of the corridor. In the fall of 2010 three blocks of ornamental LED shepherd’s hook design lights were installed in the 500-700 blocks of Gaines St. with plans to continue the lighting in other blocks as funding becomes available. At this time over 80 flower beds have been planted from the 500 block to W. Locust St. with a variety of flowers bursting with color. Trees have been planted and curbs have been repaired.
Funding for the lights came from grants from the Riverboat Development Authority and Davenport’s Community Partnership Program while sources for the flower beds has been Alderman’s Beautification Funds, Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, Scott County in Bloom and the Scott County Regional Authority.
The EGG project is ongoing and the ultimate goal is a streetscape enhanced with effective and attractive lighting, bursts of color in the flower beds and trees, and upgraded, dependable infrastructure.

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Posted in Completed Projects |