North Egypt News

The City of Christopher received approximately $200,000 from the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) to develop local parks and other public spaces.

“OSLAD Grant funding made available by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is used to cover half of the total cost of local projects, with the other half coming from local matching funds,” Rep. Dave Severin (R-Marion) posted on Facebook. 

According to the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) the Illinois General Assembly created the program in 1986.

The OSLAD grant program is a state-financed grant program that provides funding assistance to local government agencies for the acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and open spaces.

IAPD added that Illinois communities got approximately $200.8 million over its tenure.

Eligible projects include:

Acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansion, water frontage, nature study, and natural resource preservation. (LWCF & OSLAD)

Development/Renovation of: (OSLAD only)

        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, parking, utilities and restrooms; and

        Architectural/engineering (A/E) services necessary for proper design and construction of approved project components.

“IDNR recently notified my office that $253,000 is being awarded to Christopher for their city park renovation project,” Severin said. “I am always thrilled when Southern Illinois communities receive these much deserved dollars for worthy projects.”

On July 8, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that nearly 90 communities would receive funding from the state’s Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

The full list of grant recipients is as follows:

2022 OSLAD Grant Awards

Brown County

Mount Sterling Park District, Joel Oliver Memorial Pool improvements – $400,000

Champaign County

    Champaign County Forest Presrve District, Dark Sky Trail and amenities – $294,000

    Village of Fisher, Fisher Village Park redevelopment – $234,900

    Village of Rantoul, Heritage Lake redevelopment Phase 1 – $400,000

    Tolono Park District, West Side Park revitalization – $400,000 

Clark County

    Clark County Park District, campground addition – $211,500

Clinton County

    City of Trenton, Trenton Community Park improvements – $315,000

Cook County

    Alsip Park District, skate park redevelopment – $203,500

    Chicago Park District, Marian R. Byrnes Park – $500,000

    Cook County Forest Preserve District, Beaubian Woods outdoor recreation amenities – $1,150,000

    Des Plaines Park District, outdoor nature lab and play park – $400,000

    Dolton Park District, Blackstone Park Phase I – $400,000

    Elk Grove Park District, Marshall Park – $400,000

    City of Evanston, skate park at Twiggs Park – $400,000

    Park District of Forest Park, Reiger Park – $400,000

    Hanover Park District, Community Park – $319,700

    Village of Hazel Crest, 1750th Street Park Phase II – $400,000

    Hoffman Estates Park District, Beacon Point – $180,000

    Kenilworth Park District, Townley Field – $400,000

    Lemont Park District, Downtown Linear Park development – $400,000

    Village of Lincolnwood, Flowers Park – $400,000

    Mount Prospect Park District, Rosemary S. Angus Friendship Park – $400,000

    Niles Park District, Pioneer Park – $400,000

    Northbrook Park District, Oaklane Park renovations – $400,000

    City of Palos Heights, Orchard Park development – $282,100

    Park Ridge Park District, Hinkley Park – $400,000

    Prospect Heights Park District, East Wedgewood Park – $275,000

    River Trails Park District, Willow Trails Park – $400,000

    Skokie Park District, Central Park – $400,000

    Tinley Park Park District, Buedingen Park redevelopment – $311,500

    Worth Park District, Peaks Park improvements – $146,500

Dekalb County

    Sycamore Park District, Reston Ponds Park – $240,300

DuPage County

    Addison Park District, Lake Manor Nature Preserve – $396,200

    Bartlett Park District, Apple Orchard Community Park – $400,000

    Bloomingdale Park District, Stratford Park – $250,000

    Butterfield Park District, Glenbriar Park northwest development – $400,000

    Darien Park District, Community Park – $400,000

    DuPage County Forest Preserve District, Willowbrook Forest Preserve – $400,000

    Glen Ellyn Park District, Ackermann Park-Lenox site addition – $400,000

    Itasca Park District, Benson Park – $400,000

    Lombard Park District, Four Seasons Park Phase 2 – $283,100

    Medinah Park District, Thorndale Park redevelopment – $400,000

    Oak Brook Park District, Autumn Oaks Phase II at Central park – $400,000

    Roselle Park District, Turner Park – $400,000

    Village of Villa Park, Lufkin Park redevelopment – $400,000

    Westmont Park District, 314 N. Grant St. expansion acquisition – $90,000

    Wheaton Park District, Briar Patch Park improvements – $317,500

Effingham County

    Effingham Water Authority, Lake Sara Pearson Peninsula Park development Phase II – $400,000

Franklin County

    City of Christopher, park renovation – $253,000

Greene County

    City of Carrollton, Fry Park improvements – $200,000

    City of Roodhouse, REZ Park improvements – $400,000

Jefferson County

    Village of Bluford, COMBO-Village Park acquisition – $200,000

JoDaviess County

    Blackhawk Park District, Meridian Park pool house project – $100,000

Kane County

    City of Elgin, Millennium Park – $338,100

    Kane County Forest Preserve District, Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve – $400,000

    Village of West Dundee, Fairhills Park – $400,000

Knox County

    City of Galesburg, HT Custer Park renovation – $360,000

Lake County

    Buffalo Grove Park District, Prairie Grove Park – $400,000

    Park District of Highland Park, Park Avenue access improvement project – $400,000

    Lake County Forest Preserve District, Lakewood Forest Preserve redevelopment – $400,000

    Village of Libertyville, Nicholas Dowden Park Phase 1 – $400,000

    Waukegan Park District, Bevier Park renovation – $400,000

    Zion Park District, Shiloh Park – $400,000

Madison County

    Village of Hartford, COMBO w/ land donation, Lewis and Clark Tower Park – $90,000

McDonough County

    Macomb Park District, Patton Park development – $360,000

McHenry County

    Village of Algonquin, Presidential Park improvements – $400,000

    Village of Spring Grove, Main Street Park improvements – $145,800

McLean County

    Heyworth, Centennial Park playground and improvements – $64,700

Moultrie County

    City of Sullivan, Wyman Park improvements – $381,800

Ogle County

    Village of Davis Junction, Community Park expansion acquisition – $100,000

Perry County

    City of Du Quoin, Du Quoin Municipal Pool bathhouse and parking renovations – $390,500

Piatt County

    Village of Atwood, COMBO-village park expansion – $15,000

Randolph County

    Red Bud, Ratz Park revitalization – $400,000

Saline County

    Harrisburg Township Park District, inclusive playground at soccer complex – $396,000

Sangamon County

    City of Auburn, Union Park improvements – $400,000

    Springfield Park District, Kiwanis Park redevelopment – $400,000

Shelby County

    City of Shelbyville, ballfield enhancement project – $324,000

    Village of Strasburg, park renovation – $318,000

Tazewell County

    East Peoria, Levee Park Phase III spray pad and amphitheater – $400,000

Union County

    City of Anna, Hadley’s Haven – $400,000

Will County

    Channahon Park District, Tomahawk Aquatic Center – $400,000

    Frankfort Park District, Redevelopment of Windy Hill Park – $174,000

    New Lenox Community Park District, Hibernia Park development Phase II – $400,000

    Plainfield Park District, Redevelopment of Van Horn Woods – $400,000

    Village of Romeoville, Romeo Crossing Community Park – $400,000

Winnebago County

    Rockford Park District, Ray Wantz Memorial Playground development – $315,000

    Roscoe Township, Founders Park – $337,300