580 Feet of Fencing; $8,000 city project along Jackson Street begins

Inmates from the Illinois Department of Corrections high impact incarceration boot camp in Du Quoin began working on Monday to take down 580 feet of ratty fencing that separates East Jackson Street just east of the nursing homes from drop-off that leads down to the north end of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds main lake.
It’s the beginning of an $8,000 project that involves the City of Du Quoin and its street department staff, Home Lumber Co. and the Illinois DOC boot camp at Du Quoin.
The work was approved last year, but Mayor Guy Alongi said he wanted to wait until the Du Quoin Middle School students were out of school before starting. There is a fairly large drop-off that leads down to the lake and Alongi wanted the old fence to remain in place as a matter of safety for the children who walk to school.
The new fencing is being purchased and installed through Home Lumber Co. of Du Quoin. Judge Gene Gross, who years ago was largely the developer of the beautiful neighborhood on the north side of the fairgrounds, has deeded a narrow ribbon around the north side of the lake so the city so it can take down some aging trees and open up the view to the lake. The new 580 feet of fencing will have a gate so the city can access the property off and on during warm weather to mow and trim it. It will connect with a beautiful stone and wrought iron fencing system built by the Ron Porter family to protect and add curb appeal to their beautiful property to the east.