$600,000 Illinois state grant will fund improvements at Village Green Park in Glen Ellyn

The Glen Ellyn Park District in Chicago's western suburbs has received a $600,000 grant from the State of Illinois for planned improvements at Village Green Park.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant on Wednesday.

"Since I became governor, it's been my mission to build stronger, healthier communities across Illinois," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. "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."

The grant will assist with several proposed enhancements at the park, at 130 S. Lambert Rd. in Glen Ellyn, according to the Glen Ellyn Park District. The projects include the renovation of two baseball fields, a 0.65-mile perimeter walking path, and a new shelter, the park district said.

The project will also fund the addition of an adult fitness area, restroom improvements, renovated batting cages, improved pickleball facilities, beanbag toss games, and the native restoration of woodland and wetland areas with interpretive signage, the park district said.

"The OSLAD grant program provides critical matching funds that allow us to develop and improve the outdoor recreational facilities our residents rely on," Dave Thommes, executive director of the Glen Ellyn Park District, said in the release. "We are extremely appreciative to receive this grant for Village Green Park and would like to thank our state legislators and the IDNR staff for their continued support of this essential program which directly benefits our community."

Village Green Park also features garden plots, a demonstration garden, and a splash pad.

The OSLAD program is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities pay for land acquisition and development for parks and recreation. It was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986.

Numerous other park districts also received OSLAD grants this month. In Cook County, the list includes:

• Arlington Heights Park District, Flentie Park – $600,000
• Bartlett Park District, Tallgrass Park – $292,800
• Chicago Park District, Northerly Island park development – $600,000*
• Dolton Park District, Blackstone Park, phase 2 – $600,000*
• City of Elgin, Channing Park – $600,000
• Village of Elmwood Park, Kiddie Korral Park improvement project – $600,000
• Park District of Forest Park, main park – $600,000,
• Hanover Park Park District, Ranger Park site improvements – $600,000
• Village of Indian Head Park, Sacajawea Park/Kelli's Playground redevelopment – $385,500
• Park District of LaGrange, Sedgwick Park – $600,000
• Memorial Park District (Bellwood/Hillside/Melrose Park), Frost Park – $303,300
• Morton Grove Park District, Prairie View Park – $600,000
• Mount Prospect Park District – $600,000
• Village of Niles, Niles Nature Nook – $600,000
• Northbrook Park District, Techny Prairie Park and Fields renovations – $600,000
• City of Northlake, Ful-Roy Park, phase 2 development project – $425,520
• Oak Forest Park District, Don Gorman Park – $600,000
• Oak Lawn Park District, Centennial East – $600,000
• Olympia Fields Park District, Bicentennial Park, phase 1 – $239,500
• City of Palos Hills, Krasowski Park – $355,100
• Prospect Heights Park District, Country Gardens Park redevelopment – $600,000
• Village of Schaumburg, 90 North Park, phase 3 – $600,000
• Village of South Barrington, South Barrington Conservancy – $600,000
• Worth Park District, Gale Moore Park improvements – $600,000*

An asterisk (*) in the above list denotes a distressed community.

In DuPage County, in addition to the Glen Ellyn grant, the Naperville Park District is also receiving $600,000 for its Nike Sports Complex.

The state has published a statewide list of OSLAD grant recipients.