Enhance Iowa Board awards $1 million CAT grant to Waterloo
Project Name: Transforming Gates and Byrnes Parks Project,
Waterloo Total Project Cost: $17.5 million
Amount Awarded: $1,000,000
Project Description: This project includes improvements at two city parks. Gates Park improvements include a splash pad, inclusion park, amphitheater and lighted basketball courts surrounded by a roller-skating track. Byrnes Park improvements include the construction of a new aquatic center with a slide tower, 25-yard lap pool, zero-depth entry play area, bathhouse and mechanical building.
“We appreciate the Enhance Iowa Board’s financial commitment to a project enhancing two of our city parks that thousands of residents utilize and enjoy every year for everything from recreation to family gatherings,” said Quentin Hart, Mayor of Waterloo.
The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 105 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $34,503,023. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2023.
For more information contact, Paul Huting City of Waterloo Leisure Services Director 319-291-4370 paul.huting@waterloo-ia.org
or
Jessica O’Riley, Iowa Economic Development Authority 515.348.6256 communications@iowaeda.com
Yesterday’s $1 million CAT Grant Award is another big step toward fully funding the Transforming Gates and Byrnes Park Project. With this grant we have secured over $15.5 million for this project and we look forward to taking bids soon for the Gates Park project, with the Byrnes Aquatics portion to follow soon after.
The Enhance Iowa Board joins many others in supporting this estimated $17.5 million project. The Black Hawk County Gaming Association kicked off the campaign with their largest ever grant. Other funders include R.J. McElroy Trust, Otto Schoitz Foundation, Pauline R. Barrett Foundation, John Deere Waterloo, Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, Max and Helen Guernsey Foundation, Young Family Foundation, Ike Leighty Fund, Ross Christensen Family Foundation, Black Hawk County Supervisors, VGM Group, Inc. Waterloo RAGBRAI Committee, VGM Employee Fund, Waterloo Kiwanis Club, and many individual donors to the “Make a Splash” campaign at the Waterloo Community Foundation, where private donations are currently being accepted to help fully fund this project.