Northbrook Park To Receive $400K For Renovations: Pritzker

NORTHBROOK, IL — Money for renovations at Oaklane Park have been granted, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The secluded wooded park in east Northbrook will receive $400,000 as part of $30.3 million in grants approved for 87 parks throughout Illinois.

Pritzker said Friday the grant money program is designed for communities to acquire open space and develop and improve recreational facilities throughout Illinois.

“Investments in our local parks are investments in our communities,” Pritzker said in a news release. “Park projects don’t just create jobs and boost local economic development — they open the gateway for a healthier, happier Illinois. Every family in our state deserves nearby access to outdoor public spaces where they can gather with their friends and neighbors — and enjoy some sunshine, too.”

The grants announced Friday are through the state’s Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. OSLAD grants can provide up to one-half of a project’s funds and, when combined with the investment of local matching funds, will support more than $56 million in local park development projects and land acquisitions statewide.

The OSLAD program began in 1987 and has invested $433.5 million in 1,816 local park projects. The program receives dedicated funding from a percentage of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax.