Chicago Construction News staff writer
More than $28 million in state grant funding has been awarded to local governments throughout Illinois for the construction, renovation, and improvement of buildings or land purchases for public recreational spaces.
Funding comes from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act, or PARC, grant program, which is part of Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital improvement program. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) administers the program.
“Today, I’m proud to announce that, through the PARC grant program, we are dispersing more than $28 million to local governments to further public recreational opportunities throughout their communities – whether that’s renovating existing buildings or constructing a new community center, Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement.
The PARC grant program provides up to 90 percent of project costs to build, renovate, and improve recreational buildings used by the public or purchase land to be used for public access and recreational purposes, with local governments matching the value of the grants awarded.
Grant recipients and their projects are:
City of Anna (Union County) – $2.8 million
- redesign city ballpark and create a more usable, efficient, and disabled-accessible facility for the community
Arlington Heights Park District (Cook County) – $2.8 million
- renovating the interior of an existing building, converting it to a bathhouse, demolishing the existing lap pool and children’s pool, and building a new Olympic-sized lap pool and children’s water play area
Batavia Park District (Kane County) – $2.8 million
- commercial office building purchased by the park district in 2021 will be repurposed into a community recreation center to increase indoor recreation space
- planned renovations include demolition of existing offices, restrooms and closets; installation of an elevator; and carpentry, drywall, electrical, mechanicals, and plumbing, along with safety systems, finishes and furniture. A parking lot will be modified to be disabled accessible
Village of Crossville (White County) – $324,047
- build ADA-accessible sidewalks, parking spaces, and restrooms to replace outdated facilities and non-compliant walkways at Crossville’s Tiger Park
- existing pavilion will be rewired to update and increase use of the structure
- Pickleball courts will be constructed
Decatur Park District (Macon County) – $2.8 million
- renovate the former Scoville Golf Course Clubhouse into a recreational senior center
Macon County Conservation District (Macon County) – $870,750
- renovate existing office space into program space to accommodate the existing increase in program participants and allow for further expansion of programs
- expand existing program space into an outdoor classroom with chalkboard, demonstration gardens, science lab, kitchen area, seat walls, fire pit, and interpretive kiosks
Glenview Park District (Cook County) – $2.8 million
- update finishes and add new mechanical systems to aging aquatics center
- work will include removal and replacement of the pool basin finish systems, refreshed decking materials, and new paint and acoustics on walls and ceilings
Park District of Highland Park (Lake County) – $2.8 million
- new community center at West Ridge Park will replace the aging West Ridge Center with a new, sustainable facility with increased recreational capacity, improved disabled accessibility, and green space
Northbrook Park District (Cook County) – $2.8 million
- renovate interior of the Leisure Center, including adding a knowledge center, an innovation lounge, a sensory/de-escalation lounge, and a technology and training room
- renovate multipurpose rooms, activity studios, demonstration kitchen, a costume shop, a flexible performance space, and making restrooms ADA-compliant and gender neutral
Oak Lawn Park District (Cook County) – $2.1 million
- remodel of the Memorial Park Recreation Center will include converting locker rooms, shower facilities and storage areas into larger multipurpose rooms and new restrooms
City of Rock Island (Rock Island County) – $901,800
- replace 95-year-old clubhouse at Saukie Golf Course with a new facility that will include meeting space, seating areas, office, kitchen and dining area, two golf simulators, and outdoor seating facing the course
Rockford Park District (Winnebago County) – $2.8 million
- develop 50-acre Clarence Hicks Sports Park, including an eight-lane running track; a multi-purpose sports field with artificial turf for football, soccer, and lacrosse; throw and jump event areas; a spectator area with bleacher seating for 1,000; parking lot with solar lights; and landscape improvements
City of Woodstock (McHenry County) – $2.8 million
- remediation work to prolong the Woodstock Recreation Center
- seal the pool area to eliminate condensation issues; remove and replace the gymnasium roof, exterior doors, electrical panels and exterior siding; renovate the pool, hot tub and sauna; add an ADA lift to the pool area; improve parking lot drainage; add a disabled accessible restroom
