Shine a Light on Autism will be presenting a check for $2,500 to Hannibal Parks & Recreation to establish handicap accessibility at the renovated Huckleberry Park pond.

The check presentation will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at the Huckleberry Park pond.

Work on the renovation will begin soon and should take about four months. A $330,807 contract with Bleigh Construction for the renovation was approved by the Hannibal City Council. A state grant will pay for $184,000 of the cost.

The renovation was required due to the pond leaking for years. The pond will be drained, excavated, expanded and lined with clay. The shore will be lined with stone rip-rap on the sides to control erosion. The fishing dock, sidewalks and parking area will include handicap-accessible features. With the help of the Department of Conservation, the pond will be stocked with fish.

Shine a Light on Autism has been working in the local community since 2006 to bring awareness of autism and to provide recreational and educational opportunities to all special needs children and their families. Shine A Light On Autism helped the Hannibal School District start its first early intensive behavorial intervention (EIBI) classroom to serve kids with autism and other disorders. Shine a Light on Autism has also donated to the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center’s Play Without Boundaries Sensory Room.