ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The City of Rock Island was awarded over $900,000 for improvements to one of its signature local attractions.
On Wednesday, Jan. 10, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced over $28 million in state grant funding from Illinois' Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act grant program. The program provides up to 90% of the money necessary to fund work on recreational buildings.
Rock Island received $901,800 that will go towards replacing the 95-year-old clubhouse at Saukie Golf Course. Officials said the new clubhouse will have meeting spaces, indoor hitting bays, two golf simulators, course-facing outdoor seating and more. It will also have a fully accessible starting and ending point for golfers while providing a year-round, all-season space for learning and enrichment activities.
According to officials, the renovations are desperately needed, as the current clubhouse is beyond its useful life and in a state of deterioration.
“The tourism dollars that will come to Rock Island as a result of much-needed improvements to the Saukie Golf Course are going to make a world of difference for the local economy. Building a stronger future for our community starts with steady economic growth, and I am pleased to be able to secure the money for Rock Island to achieve that," Rep. Gregg Johnson (D-Rock Island) said in a press release.
“You can learn a lot about a community by the way they invest in publicly accessible recreation for residents,” State Sen. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) said in a press release. “The state is kicking in close to $1 million to upgrade the clubhouse at Saukie, which is a significant investment for the revitalization efforts in Rock Island.”
Todd Winter, the assistant director of the Rock Island Parks & Recreation Department, joined The Current on News 8 to discuss the ripple effect of these renovations. You can watch his full interview in the above video.
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