Racino Hits Roadblock As Pritzker Stops Land Sale

TINLEY PARK, IL — The planned racino — racetrack and casino — in Tinley Park at the site of the former Mental Health Center facility hit a major roadblock Tuesday when village attorneys received a letter from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's administration that the state will not sell the 183rd Street property. The Chicago Tribune reports the letter was sent just days after their investigation into Rick Heidner, a real estate developer leading the push for the racino.

Tinley Park Village Manager Dave Niemeyer says the village will assess its options moving forward, indicating they were "blindsided" by the allegations related to Heidner.

"The Village of Tinley Park was as blindsided as the state of Illinois was by the recent allegations in the media over the weekend related to Rick Heidner," the village wrote in an official statement Tuesday.

"The village is currently assessing its options going forward. We still strongly believe the racino is an outstanding project that will bring significant jobs and tax revenues to the state, the south suburban region and the village due to its superb location and other tourism related facilities in the area."

According to most recent reports, Playing in the Park LLC plans to offer harness racing three nights a week beginning in December of 2020.

The Tribune published the brief letter the Illinois Department of Central Management Services sent to Tinley Park officials on Tuesday.

In it, it says the state will not sell the Tinley Park Mental Health Center property at this time.