$2.8M Awarded To Arlington Heights Park District From Grant: Pritzker

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday the Arlington Heights Park District will be receiving $2.8 million in state grant funding as part of his Rebuild Illinois capital program. The money is awarded to local governments throughout the state for construction, renovation, and improvement of buildings or land purchases for public recreational opportunities.

In all, $28 million is being awarded to 13 municipalities and government agencies, according to a news release from Pritzker's office. The funding comes from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act, or PARC, grant program and is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

For the Arlington Heights Park District specifically, the funding will go toward the following, according to Pritzker's office:

The project consists of 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. Site improvements will make the pool, the children's area, and the bathhouse building Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

"This investment will improve safety, increase accessibility and bring modern amenities to what is already a great asset for our community," State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights, 53rd District). "In particular, this renovation will be beneficial for children and families. I appreciate the work put in by the Arlington Heights Park District and local officials to move this project forward."

According to state officials, the PARC grant program provides up to 90 percent of project costs to help 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.

"Public recreational spaces promote wellness, all while safeguarding the environment, and I look forward to visiting these modernized facilities once they are up and running," Pritzker said.