Now that summer is around the corner and tourist season is drawing closer, revitalization efforts are in full swing throughout Steelville. A community group called Steelville Forward and city officials have both been taking steps in recent weeks to beautify the town.

Creek cleanup has been a high priority for both groups. Because the Yadkin Creek is a natural waterway, the town’s cleanup efforts are limited by federal regulations. City officials have met with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to better understand what work is allowed under nationwide permits.

The Corps of Engineers issues nationwide permits every five years to pre-approve activities that they deem to have minimal effects on the aquatic environment of a waterway. Within strict limits, this will allow the city to cut vegetation from the creek’s banks and remove gravel deposits that have accumulated.

“We can cut the trees and the brush down to the level of the dirt, but we can’t dig any root systems out,” City Supervisor Jason Evan said. “Plus, those root systems are kind of what’s holding those hillsides back and keeping erosion from happening.”

About 75 percent of the creek has been assessed so far. City crews will start with clearing out the portion that is closer to downtown, near Hoppe Spring Park, before working their way further out.

“That way, water moves through the business area and the residential area faster,” Evans explained.

The city also does not need a permit to take out the low water bridge on Third Street and will be receiving bids on the cost of removal. This will help water flow more freely through the creek. Evans reported at the last Board of Aldermen meeting that the decision is supported by both Crawford County Sheriff Darin Layman and the County Commission.

Because prisoners often have to be walked back and forth between the courthouse and county jail for processing, this bridge could be replaced with a walking bridge so they don’t need to be taken all the way around.

The DNR and Corps of Engineers have also advised that the bridge on Spring Street will eventually need to be decommissioned for traffic, Mayor Duane DeRennaux said. Instead, it will become pedestrian-only for walkers and bikers. Steelville Forward has discussed ideas for turning it into a covered bridge.

The group is starting to identify subcommittees and plans to solidify them at the next meeting. Aside from creek cleanup, members will also focus on advertising and downtown beautification.

With advertising, the goal is to increase information availability for tourists, start an advertising campaign, mount newly updated town maps and look at putting a billboard up on I-44 to bring more people to Steelville.

As for beautification efforts, the group has plans to freshen the planters downtown, spruce up the sidewalks, paint simple games like hopscotch on them and put on a community trash pick up.

Other members will work on getting better parking signage installed, marketing the town’s historical sites and creating a history walking tour, putting on events every fifth Saturday and establishing selfie photo locations for tourists.

Steelville Forward will work hand-in-hand with the city on its efforts. Many plans are still in their early stages, but the mood at the meeting was hopeful.

“Just as our title says, Steelville Forward, we’re just trying to make a movement in our town,” DeRennaux said.

The next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26 with a location still to be determined.