ZION — The unsafe alley between the 2100 and 2500 blocks of Joppa Avenue in Zion will be repaired after the city received nearly a million dollars in state grants, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) announced Wednesday. 

“Ambulances, police and other first responders have struggled to access this alleyway for years, and this reconstruction project will now allow first responders to best serve Zion residents who live in the area,” Bush said. “Working together with Mayor Billy McKinney and the city council, we were able to identify and fund much-needed project.”

The Joppa Avenue alley has deteriorated to the extent it’s no longer accessible to emergency vehicles, such as police and fire, resulting in families in the area not receiving the help they need in a timely matter. The city will resurface the alley and replace storm drains, so stormwater stops collecting. The $914,000 worth of repairs is coming from the Build Illinois Bond Fund.

“Zion’s partnership with State Senator Bush and Representative Mason has put the city at the top of the list for state investments, and we appreciate their hard work,” McKinney said. “I have traveled to Springfield frequently since I have been elected and continue to be in regular communication with our outstanding legislators.”

Other Zion-based projects for Fiscal Year 2021 include: 

• $750,000 for costs associated with a grant to Zion School District 126 for costs associated with improvements for Zion Benton Township High School.

• $550,000 for a grant to Northpoint Resources for costs associated with renovations to the North Pointe Group Homes in Zion.

• $100,000 for a grant to the Safe Place in Zion for costs associated with infrastructure improvements, including security system and upgrades.

• $195 million for critical infrastructure projects in Lake County, including $122 million for regional stormwater management projects to reduce flood damages and restore and enhance the natural drainage system in Zion and other communities.