A project in the City of Burlington and Des Moines County in southeast Iowa that includes recreational and educational improvements won a big award from the state Vision Iowa board today. Governor Tom Vilsack attended the meeting in Des Moines to make the announcement.He says the city will receive four-point-two-five million dollars and the county will receive one million dollars. Vilsack says the overall project will include 27-million dollars in investment when all is said and done. Part of the money will be used to renovate the minor league baseball park that’s home to the Burlington Bees.Vilsack says the ballpark is a place where he’s spent a few of his Sunday’s with his sons as they were growing up. He says it’s a great place to watch a game and the award will let them upgrade it to a state-of-the-art facility. Another part of the project includes renovation of Burlington’s Memorial Auditorium. He says one of the great things about Vision Iowa is what’s occurring along the Mississippi River — communities reclaiming their heritage and tradition by sprucing up the gateway to their communities and encouraging visitors. The city will also get a new library and the historical center will move into the old library. Des Moines County will improve the Big Hollow a recreational area with their portion of the money. Dennis Hinkle is a vice president with the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce. He says this will be a tremendous project for the area and is an “outstanding mix and blend of activities” from cultural to entertainment. Vilsack says this award now gives Vision Iowa a major project in all four corners of the state.
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