Stemming from a unanimous vote by the city council to provide funding to Veterans Park on Gurler Road, DeKalb Park District Director Dave Emanuelson said renovations should begin almost immediately.

At the council meeting Monday, council members were presented with a consideration to transfer a third of the funds from the Fairview South Subdivision Project impact fees to be used for Veterans Park.

These impact fees are available thanks to a city ordinance that says developers must provide about $1250 per home or $750 per apartment to provide for such projects that benefit a newly-built subdivision.

The original $116,000 compiled from the Fairview Subdivision primarily was to be used for Kiwanis Park, immediately adjacent to Fairview, and for the Sports and Recreation Center within Kiwanis Park.

But with needs within Veterans Park and because the park is also within the service area of Fairview, the park district asked the community development and then the city council to approve of the monetary transfer.

Emanuelson said while no concrete plans have been laid out regarding the renovations, preliminary plans were discussed within the park district.

“We’re not sure yet about what exactly we’ll do, but we know we will set up an advisery committee representing Veterans Park that will look at what should be done,” Emanuelson said.

One such proposal would be to install a memorial for DeKalb residents who fought and died in war. Other possibilities for Veterans Park would be increased parking and/ or curb cuts.

Emanuelson said the parking lot also may coincide with the memorial service and be a nice walkway for people to see the names of those who served in previous wars.

“We would like a park area that would be as versatile as possible,” Emanuelson said.

City Manager Jim Connors said by next week the check should be written out, at which time the park district can use the money as they see fit.