Kirkville upgrades city park

Jan. 12--KIRKVILLE -- Though small in size, claiming just 167 residents, the Wapello County town of Kirkville takes pride in what it has to offer its small population. The city park is one of those sources of satisfaction.

"I think for a small city we have a very nice park," said City Clerk Jane Underwood. "In the past year we have been working on the shelter house. We screened it in, so you could eat in there and have dinners" undisturbed by insects, Underwood said. "One of the council members built a counter top with electricity to it to plug in crock pots," she said.

"This year we plan to paint it," said the city clerk. "I put that in the budget, to paint the shelter. We also hope to purchase some new picnic tables this summer."

The upgrades came with help from a $1,000 grant from the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP), the city's property and casualty coverage provider.

The ICAP Grant, a special initiative in celebration of ICAP's 30th anniversary, provides up to $1,000 per member for the purchase of select loss control land/or risk management items including approved playground surface materials, exit signage, automated external defibrillators and fire extinguishers.

ICAP was formed in 1986 as a group self-insurance program for Iowa public entities. The member-owned Pool provides property and casualty coverage, risk-sharing facilities and risk-management services to its members.

"We had just put $1,200 worth of mulch in the playground," Underwood said, "and I asked [ICAP] if it would qualify." Kirkville applied for the grant in October, submitting its receipts for the mulch, and was recently awarded $1,000 to cover part of the cost.

"It's going to be available this coming year, too," said Underwood of the grant. Underwood said she'll look into what project the city has completed by the end of summer that might qualify for the $1,000 grant. "Whatever qualifies, I'll send that in" on a grant application, she said.

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