Village Gets $600K Grant For Park Improvements

ALGONQUIN, IL — The village has been awarded a $600,000 open space land acquisition and development grant from the State of Illinois to support improvements at Willoughby Farms Park, village officials announced.

The grant is part of a $36 million statewide funding round administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which awarded OSLAD grants to 67 communities for local park and outdoor recreation projects, according to the village of Algonquin press release.

Willoughby Farms Park, at 2001 Wynnfield Drive, is a 12-acre community park originally developed in 1996. The grant will help fund redevelopment efforts outlined in the village’s recently adopted Willoughby Farms Park Master Plan, which was developed through multiple public meetings, surveys, and stakeholder input, village officials said.

Planned improvements include new pickleball courts, a nature-themed playground, a multi-use sports court, a gathering plaza with water features, a restroom building, expanded parking, improved walking paths, and shoreline habitat enhancements, according to the news release.

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2026, with completion anticipated by summer 2027. The Village will provide periodic project updates as construction milestones are reached, village officials said.

“This project is about reinvesting in a park that has meant a great deal to the surrounding neighborhood for decades,” said Village President Debby Sosine. “By leveraging state funding and local resources, we’re preserving what residents value about Willoughby Farms Park while making responsible improvements that benefit the community as a whole.”

The overall project is estimated to cost approximately $4.6 million. Funding includes the $600,000 OSLAD grant, approximately $1.25 million in development fees from the Algonquin Meadows project, and additional Village funding.

Algonquin Meadows is a residential development consisting of 100 single-family homes and 150 townhomes, located directly south of Willoughby Farms Park.