Over 100 local park projects throughout the state received $54.9 million in funds from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program, a program managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Niles Park District, the Morton Grove Park District and the Golf Maine Park District received funds ranging from $350,000 to $600,000.
The state provides up to 50% funding assistance for projects taken up by a park district. Eligible projects include acquiring new land, developing/renovating picnic and playground facilities, outdoor nature interpretive facilities, sports courts and play fields, swimming pools, beaches and bathhouses, campgrounds and fishing piers, winter sports facilities, park roads and paths, utilities and restrooms and architectural and engineering services for the parks.
The Niles Park District received $600,000 from the OSLAD program to fund new development at Golf Mill Park. The playground will be updated, and the picnic shelter will be moved, creating two new shelters, according to Niles Park District Executive Director Tom Elenz.
The basketball court and the soccer field will remain, but they’ll be refreshed, according to Elenz. One of the two tennis courts will refreshed, and the other will be converted for pickleball, creating four new lighted pickleball courts.
Golf Mill Park will also feature new amenities, including game tables, a table tennis table for ping pong, and bag toss. The drinking fountain will be upgraded to include a bottle filler and a ground-level drinking bowl for pets.
The Morton Grove Park District received $352,100 from the grants for projects at Palma Lane Park. The project’s application said the park trail would be extended to create a loop and money would also be used to renovate the baseball field and basketball court and add playground equipment, a new shelter, picnic tables and a pollinator garden with educational signage.
Kevin Hubka, the executive director for the Golf Maine Park District, said the district will use the $500,000 it received from the state for several projects at Dee Park Recreation Center.
According to Hubka, the projects will include a new playground with new equipment and rubber surfacing. The picnic shelter will be upgraded and moved to accommodate a new path. The athletic fields will also be regraded, and the outdoor walking path will also be fixed in specific areas around the park.
“This project will ensure that residents of the Golf Maine Park District have a wonderful neighborhood park to use for the next 20 years,” said Hubka. “The rubber surfacing around the new playground area will cut down the number of injuries that occur while kids are playing, making it a safer place to play. This playground will be inclusive to kids of all ages, and will also have handicapped accessible features as well.”
