SPRINGFIELD, IL- State Senator Chris Balkema (R-Channahon) announced today that Coal City and Dwight will receive a combined $1.2 million in state funding through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grant program to support local park improvements.
“These OSLAD grants are a smart investment in our communities, giving families better access to safe, well-maintained parks and outdoor spaces close to home,” said Senator Balkema. “Projects like these strengthen quality of life, support local priorities, and ensure taxpayer dollars are put to work in ways residents can see and enjoy for years to come.”
The Village of Coal City was awarded $600,000 for the Hunters Run Park project, while the Village of Dwight will receive $600,000 for Renfrew Park Master Plan Phase II.
“This round of OSLAD grants represents long-awaited projects from the smallest villages of rural Illinois to Chicago and the suburbs,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “There is an impressive amount of work, creativity, and ambition that goes into planning new outdoor recreational facilities, and I’m delighted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is able to play a small part in helping communities thrive.”
Established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, the OSLAD program is a cost-sharing partnership between state and local governments that helps communities acquire land and develop outdoor recreation opportunities. Since its creation, the program has awarded $640 million for park projects across Illinois.
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