The Edwardsville Community Foundation announced Tuesday, July 1, that it is awarding the City of Edwardsville $1.35 million to help fulfill the wishes of a family whose business served the community for nearly a century.

The David Kriege Family entrusted ECF with the gift and a directive to use it to improve the quality of life in Edwardsville, ECF Chair Rich Walker said. David Kriege, who died in 2022, was the last member of his family to operate Kriege Hardware, a business fixture in downtown Edwardsville from 1920 to 2011. The gift specified three areas of interest: recreation, preservation and beautification. 

Mayor Art Risavy and the Edwardsville City Council have identified three projects to honor the Kriege family’s legacy and generosity:

• Construction of an All Abilities Playground (up to $600,000) at a location yet to be finalized
• Creation of Crocker Gardens Park on an empty lot the City purchased at 211 S. Benton Street (up to $165,000), to include sidewalks, a playground and open play area for use as a neighborhood park
• Green space enhancement of  another recent City acquisition, the parcel at Gerber Road and Governors’ Parkway (up to $540,000), to include a trail, trees, meadow and pollinator plantings, a small parking lot, bike racks and signage.

“ECF has been a part of nearly every major park project in the City and we are thrilled to be able to be the conduit for these important projects that will benefit the area for generations to come,” Walker said. “I look forward to even more opportunities.”

Mayor Risavy said the City is grateful for the gift and the opportunity to honor the Kriege family’s intent with projects that can be enjoyed by everyone in the community. “We are excited to be able to move forward with these projects, and appreciate the ECF’s faith in the City to advance works that are a fitting tribute to this longtime Edwardsville family,” he said.

The City has hired TWM to prepare site plans for the Benton Street and Gerber Road and Governors' Parkway locations. It is expected that those plans could be ready later this fall to seek bids to move forward with the two parks. The City announced the purchase of the two sites in February 2024. Mayor Risavy said the purchases were part of a larger plan to create a "green corridor" throughout the community that benefits all who live, work and visit Edwardsville. A public open house was held that same month to allow the public to weigh in on possible uses and amenities for each.

One additional project in the City also was funded by the ECF, Walker said. Consistent with the donor’s intent, ECF approved a $45,000 grant for a historic project to be named by the Historic Preservation Commission through the City Council, Walker said.

More details will be released as plans for the projects proceed.