State grants awarded to DuPage County park districts and forest preserves

The Illinois Office of Organic Means has awarded much more than $5.3 million in point out grants to strengthen DuPage County parks and forest preserves.

The grants were made less than Illinois’ Open up Room Land Acquisition and Improvement (OSLAD) software. It provides grants to include up to 50% of the value of assignments to mend and change outdated services and build new properties, paths and leisure areas or gear.

“These grants depict clever, very long-phrase investments in the overall health and effectively-becoming of our people that will generate dividends for many years to appear,” condition Rep. Terra Costa Howard of Glen Ellyn explained in a statement.

Costa Howard’s office touted the more than $1.8 million in OSLAD grants established to arrive to the 48th District’s parks and forest preserves. For example, two independent grants of $400,000 are headed to the Butterfield Park District’s Glenbriar Park in Lombard and the Glen Ellyn Park District’s Ackerman Park for advancements that incorporate four new pickleball courts in every single park.

A further $400,000 grant goes to the DuPage County Forest Preserve District’s Willowbrook Forest Preserve. The funds will aid spend for a path, an animal rehabilitation heart and an outdoor classroom.

Villa Park also obtained a $400,000 grant, which will go toward Lufkin Park. The village beforehand closed Lufkin Pool in 2018 owing to its age and fix expenses. However Lufkin Park will not get a new pool with the grant, the village has other improvement designs.

“This new task is set to consist of a spray pad, new available playground, obtainable pier, band shell, ninja program, going for walks route, restrooms and purely natural spots,” reported Greg Gola, Villa Park Director of Parks, Recreation and Fleet Services.

Other OSLAD grant recipients contain:

• Addison Park District, with $396,200 slotted for Lake Manor Nature Protect

• Bartlett Park District, with $400,000 for Apple Orchard Neighborhood Park

• Bloomingdale Park District, with $250,000 for Stratford Park

• Darien Park District, with $400,000 for Community Park

• Itasca Park District, with $400,000 for Benson Park

• Lombard Park District, with $283,100 for Four Seasons Park

• Medinah Park District, with $400,000 for Thorndale Park

• Oak Brook Park District, with $400,000 for Autumn Oaks Phase II at Central Park

• Roselle Park District, with $400,000 for Turner Park

• Westmont Park District, with $90,000 for an enlargement acquisition at 314 N. Grant St.

• Wheaton Park District, with $317,500 for improvements to Briar Patch Park

“Here in DuPage County, our considerable eco-friendly public areas lead drastically to the high-quality of everyday living in our communities,” Costa Howard reported. “With these grants, we can boost these services and make them even more welcoming and fulfilling for our people and people.”