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 |

Gaines St. Lights Up

May 7th, 2011 by PJ

Up and down Gaines St. from Centennial Bridge to W. Locust St. the streets and boulevards are lighting up thanks to a group known as EGG. 

This project  includes the purchase and installation of new energy efficient LED decorative lights, over 80 flower beds, new trees plus the repair and updating of streets and sidewalks.

Edmund Gaines was a military man in the early 1800’s.  Gaines St. is named after him, and the acronym EGG stands for the Edmund Gaines Group.  This group consists of a group of representatives from a variety of civic and neighborhood organizations – from the City of Davenport and Scott County to the GC&HHDA , Quad City Chamber, German American Heritage Center, and St. Ambrose University, to name a portion of those involved.  The express purpose of EGG is the streetscaping of the Gaines St. Corridor.

In the 4+ years EGG has been meeting, resources for the lights have come from grants awarded by Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) and the City of Davenport’s Community Partnership Program (CPP).  Three blocks of the green shepherd’s hook design were installed in 2010, and two more blocks will be installed in 2011.  The ultimate goal is lighting through the corridor to W. Locust St.  The project will move as quickly as money is obtained for the purchase and installation of lights. 

Grant money for the flower beds has come through Alderman’s Beautification Funds, Community Foundation of Great River Bend, Scott County in Bloom and Scott County Regional  Authority.  Volunteers fill out the labor part of the project.

 The residents along Gaines St. are proud and thankful for the project “lighting up” the neighborhood and looking forward to the day when lights get to their block.  Gaines St. resident Ryan Berger says:  “Driving up Gaines St. reminds me of the Netherlands with all of the blooming tulips.”

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Posted in News |

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 |