Park District to Receive $600,000 OSLAD Grant for Main Park Renovation
[Forest Park, IL] – The Park District of Forest Park today announced that it has been selected to receive a $600000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the State of Illinois. This planned project includes the turf sports field, main park playground, and the area around those two outdoor facilities.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) awarded a total of $36 million to 67 communities for local park development projects as part of the latest round of OSLAD grants.
“Since I became Governor, it’s been my mission to build stronger, healthier communities across Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through the OSLAD program, we’re bringing that vision to life by awarding over $36 million to local park projects, expanding green spaces and creating new recreational opportunities for all.”
Established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. It’s become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment, OSLAD has awarded $640 million for park projects throughout Illinois (including the awards announced today).
“This is great news for our Park District and for all our residents of the Village,” Park Board President Tim Gillian said. “Once again, the Park District and the State & Legislators come through with a huge grant to help the Park District continue focusing on improving the quality of our parks and services.”
Elements covered in the grant include a new turf surface on the Multi-Use Sports Field, a renovation of the main playground, an outdoor classroom area, pavement games, game tables, a putting green, a rain garden, landscaping, and interpretive signage. All these elements will be within the area between the turf field, playground, and Day Camp building.
“This is an exciting day at the Park District of Forest Park,” Executive Director Jackie Iovinelli said. “This grant gives us the opportunity to put into motion the feedback we’ve received from the community and properly renovate our highly used spaces.”
The Park District used OSLAD Grant funding for their pocket park renovation project that saw the updating of four pocket parks which allowed them to create some truly unique spaces around town.
“After the success of our pocket parks project, we’re excited to carry that momentum into our main park renovation,” Iovinelli said. “We appreciate our community’s patience, and we look forward to the process and the final result!”