AUGUSTA — As part of what has been an ongoing effort to upgrade the look of downtown Augusta, council members learned Wednesday the city will be receiving $20,000 for streetscapes.
A sidewalk area along the west side of Main Street from the railroad tracks to Second Street is covered by the grant from the Kentucky Department for Local Government, said Bracken Augusta Tourism Director Doug Padgett.
“It is a 100 percent grant, no matching funds are required,” Padgett told council members Wednesday.
Funds were derived from a recapture of unused finds from grant projects other communities did not use, Padgett said.
More than 90 communities applied for the grant, he said.
“We are pleasantly surprised to have been chosen,” Padgett said.
The grant proposal will improve the look and safety of about a block-long section of Main Street sidewalk which has a multi-tiered edge and uneven surfacing, Padgett said.
“We want to make it safer and more accessible. There are some pretty steep steps coming off the main sidewalk to where people park and it is awkward,” Padgett said.
During the meeting, council members and a past member suggested including special receptacles for plastic containers in the design, so the items could be recycled instead of being picked up as trash.
Padgett said the suggestions would be passed on to the next phase, once the final paperwork is done, to consult with an architect for design proposals.
“Once we have final paperwork done, we may have 24 months to complete the project,” Padgett said.
Over the past several years, Main Street has been the focus of other grants, including a façade enhancement grant and Renaissance on Main projects. Augusta’s riverwalk sidewalks were also enhanced this year as part of grants the city has received, officials said.
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