Grant Money Awarded to Improve Huckleberry Park

Look for some changes to take place at Huckleberry Park in Hannibal. The Hannibal Parks & Recreation Department has received a $184,000 grant to improve the park. They received notification of the grant award on Wednesday.  This comes as great news after the pond has been leaking for some time and has had bank erosion and accessibility issues as well. In addition, a handicap accessible dock will be added through the grant money awarded.

The plans are to widen the pond in at its north end and to deepen it with piping replaced and the bank lined with riprap. In addition, more benches will be added to surround the pond, and an accessible dock will be installed for people with mobility issues. Once completed, the pond will also be stocked with fish.

The Hannibal City Council approved in February a resolution allowing the department to apply for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant. Klingner and Associates estimated the project would cost about $500,000. Hannibal Parks & Recreation will match the grant mostly with in-house labor and equipment.

The largest costs are the excavation, hauling and clay lining for the pond located in the 63-acre park located at U.S. 61 and Huckleberry Drive

Andy Dorian, Director of the Hannibal Parks Department, said the plan is to bid the project during the summer of 2019 with construction hopefully starting later in the summer or early fall. The goal is to have the project completed before the end of 2019.

In advance of the project, park personnel will clear trees and brush from along the pond’s bank this winter.