Amador County – The city of Jackson learned recently it has been awarded a $326,000 refurbishment grant for Vista Point, to enhance the park, with more accessible viewing areas, lighting, a drinking fountain and bathrooms and interpretive signage.

Councilman Keith Sweet said Tuesday the city will be awarded in March for a grant he and local consultant Rene Chapman applied for refurbishing Vista Point.

City Manager Mike Daly said the project received a grant from the Natural Resources Agency and California Department of Transportation, for improvement at the roadside park, next to Highway 49, below Argonaut Mine, and across the highway, overlooking the Kennedy Mine head frame and acreage.

Daly said California Transportation Commission will make final allocation of the grant at the end of March, and they hope to start construction in the summer. It will work with Rotary, Hospice and American Legion to preserve markers there, and add and a stone observation wall and interpretive signage for self-guided tours highlighting the gold mining and other historic locations of the area, including both those in view, and those out of the area. Daly said the “environmental enhancement mitigation program” will mitigate impacts from construction of the Highway 49 Bypass, because it bypasses some important historic sites in Sutter Creek, such as the Knight Foundry, and others around the county.

Daly said the grant was 100 percent funded, meaning there was no match that the city needed to put up to receive the funding. Sweet said the Jackson Revitalization Committee is also working on putting in a new gateway sign at Vista Point.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.