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Ex-Cop to Be Remembered After Grants for Parks

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Jennifer Kapiolani Saxton, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.

Through a new Madison County grant program, the late Granite City Police sergeant and park enthusiast Dave Polivick will be remembered at trailheads throughout the county.

"This is a way we can honor him," said County Board member Hal Patton, who also serves on the County Parks and Recreation Grant Commission.

Through the David Polivick Memorial Trailhead Park grant program, the commission will award $300,000 in the form of four $75,000 grants to local community park boards and districts to be used exclusively for trail access and enhancements.

"(A trailhead) is a place where you can park your car and get on the trail, have a restroom facility or construct a water fountain station," Patton said.

Each recipient of the grant funds will be asked to provide a small plaque at the trailhead or trail enhancement site to pay tribute to the grant program, Patton said.

Funds from the trailhead grants can be used in conjunction with local agencies or nonprofit organizations, such as Madison County Transit and Trailnet, as long as the property is accessible to the public.

Polivick died in 2004 after a long battle with cancer. After retiring from the Granite City Police Department, Polivick became heavily involved with the Granite City Parks and Recreation District for eight years. He later managed the Chouteau Island Project. Just six months before he died, he was named director of the Metro-East Parks and Recreation District.

Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan wishes Polivick could have seen all the gains that the county has made with its trail system since his passing.

"He was very committed to the program," Dunstan said. "He would've been very pleased with what we're doing here."

Any time improvements can be made to make the bike trails more accessible, it's beneficial to citizens of Madison County, Dunstan said.

"The trail system that we have in Madison County is getting national recognition," Patton said. "It is a major consideration people have in mind when they move to Madison County."

Patton said this grant program will allow the county to interact and combine efforts with the Metro East Parks and Recreation District.

"We're trying to link the community with the trail system by providing this grant money," Patton said.

Submissions will be judged on creativity, opportunity for access and use of matching funds.

Applications will be taken until April 20. The grant awards will be announced June 12 at a joint meeting with the Metro East Parks and Recreation District and the Madison County Parks and Recreation Grants Commission.

Contact reporter Jennifer Kapiolani Saxton at jsaxton@bnd.com or 345-7822, ext. 23.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.)

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