The erosion at the base of the pipe caused the culvert to collapse. Sequoit Creek will be restored as a centerpiece for the park. (Photo by Gregory Harutunian/for Chronicle Media)

Antioch has always been a close-knit community, conveying a sense of home for families and neighbors growing up together, going to the same places, and staying put to make deep roots. That’s why a strong community presence was felt, when Antioch officials turned the first ceremonial shovels of dirt on a long-awaited downtown park Friday, July 28.

Residents, former town administrators, representatives from the county and other towns all came together to witness the beginnings of a blighted area’s transformation. The triangular 4.5-acre parcel bordered by Main, Orchard, and Depot streets was screened off last year. It hides the collapsed culvert and piping from the early 1970s that once covered Sequoit Creek.

“Pittman Pontiac Motors sat on the property, long ago,” said Jim Keim, Antioch village administrator. “I bought my first car there, when I was 16 … emptied my bank account, and they found me a car for $400. We sought community input on what residents wanted to see here. It was a park, and the creek opened up, so we’re doing that.”

Antioch purchased the property for $110,000 in December 2020, with an eye toward open space development. They hired the Chicago-based Lakota Group the following year to conduct an online survey and render designs based on the public input.

“We looked at the downtown beautification master plan and the key spaces,” said Morgan Chapman, who headed Lakota’s design team. “They had remediation work to identify the ‘hot spots’ for materials last summer. Now, we’re going to take out the collapsed piping, degraded soils, and bring in new topsoil for the vegetation.”

Hanging electric power lines and effluent water piping will all be rerouted, as the project progresses. The corrugated pipe that contained the creek eroded at the base and caused the collapse. Lake County Stormwater Management secured a $2.75 million grant from the state for the restoration of the creek.

“The project advantages for the people downstream, now that you’re daylighting the creek, is flood mitigation, where water can flow to the surface,” said Kurt Woolford, the stormwater management director. “There’s water treatment, as it flows through the vegetation. The native plants help quality throughout the watershed level … locally, upstream and downstream.”

The $12.7 million park project also received $1.9 million in federal money from the American Recovery Plan Act. General obligation bonds will fund the remaining amounts, and be repaid with its generated state sales tax allotment. The project is set for completion next year.

“I believe it will impact the downtown, but first and foremost beautify this blighted piece of property,” said Antioch mayor Scott Gartner. ”With the different amenities that we are going to add, it will bring more people to the historic downtown business district. Not only for tourism, but becoming a hub for our community.”

The drawing card is the uncovered and restored Sequoit Creek running through the downtown. The creek’s meandering path will be lined by walking paths and a crossover pedestrian foot bridge. Other items include a splashpad, pavilion area, restrooms, concession stand and cafe, and playground equipment. Native plants are to be installed and landscaped into the terrain.

“Our intention with the Antioch Garden club was to have input on the type of plants installed there,” said Holly Swehla, the club’s president. “When it’s done, anyone who’s lived in Antioch, at some point in their life, and played there, or saw the car dealership when it was there, or the gas stations … this will be a gem, an absolute gem!”

Former mayor Larry Hanson noted, “My job, as mayor, was primarily to work with the board to get the project to this level, six years ago. You don’t get things accomplished without other people, and thank fully, this current village board is actually fulfilling the dream.”