At the same time the Blagojevich administration was advocating "sweeping" what it termed to be excess monies from more than 350 funds — including the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Fund — the governor announced OSLAD distributions of $21.2 million in March. The OSLAD money, combined with grants from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program, amounted to $25.3 million in grants for 77 local park projects throughout Illinois. The grants are set to fund an array of enhancements, including new land to be developed into parks, funding for new projects in existing parks and protection of natural areas.

"Developing parks is good for the Illinois economy. When people choose where they will raise their families, parks are part of the equation of evaluating quality of life in a community," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Joel Brunsvold. "As we make communities attractive to families by developing parks, we make the communities attractive to businesses looking for places to locate or expand where their employees will be happy."

According to the IDNR, the following agencies received funding for land acquisition projects:

• The Carol Stream Park District -$383,900 to acquire 4.5 acres of land for a neighborhood park. The proposed development will include a fitness trail, bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits, a shelter with game tables, landscaping and a parking lot.

•The Champaign Park District- $215,200 to acquire 18.2 acres for a neighborhood park in northwest Champaign. Future development will include a playground, basketball court, picnic shelter, practice sports fields, landscaping and parking.

• Clyde Park District - $117,500 to acquire 19 acres of land as an expansion of North Clyde Park.

• The DuPage County Forest Preserve District - $703,000 to acquire 22.85 acres of land that will complete the acquisition of the Medinah Wetlands site.

• Fremont Township - $601,800 to acquire 28 acres of land for future park development.

• Grayslake Park District - $750,000 to acquire 40 acres in southern Grayslake. Future development of the site includes sports fields and courts, picnic areas, a playground, trails, habitat restoration and parking.

• The Kendall County Forest Preserve District - $750,000 to acquire 140 acres on the Fox River, west of Yorkville. The property contains nearly one mile of Fox River shoreline, wooded bluffs, ravines, wetlands and 150 native plant species, including state threatened plants and trees.

• Lake Villa Township - $750,000 to acquire 39 acres of undeveloped woodland, wetland and open space.

• The Village of Mahomet - $83,000 to acquire 10.72-acres of parkland.

• The McHenry County Conservation District - $750,000 to acquire a 219-acre oak woodland area. The acquisition will add to a 390-acre existing area known as Bailey's Woods.

• The Village of North Utica - $182,000 to acquire a 17.75-acre property on the Illinois River.

• The Village Robbins - $187,900 to acquire 10.6 acres of open space.

•The Rockford Park District -$612,000 to acquire the existing Roy Gayle Park. The complex includes 55 acres of open space with seven baseball/softball diamonds, a concession building and parking

• St. Clair County - $304,000 to acquire 91.66 acres to expand Foley Park.

• The Village of Swansea - $157,100 to acquire 10.27 acres of open space.

• The Winnebago Forest Preserve District - $476,000 to acquire 252 acres adjacent to the Village of Rockton. The site lies along the Rock River, and future development includes wetland and prairie restoration, hiking trails, fishing areas and parking.

The following agencies received grants to develop parkland.

• The Village of Algonquin - $400,000 to develop a 145-acre community park.

• The Barrington Park District - $400,000 for initial development of a former brownfield site to include playfields, trails, a walking path, an ice skating rink, picnic areas, shelters, gazebo, playground, amphitheater, nature hut, restrooms, a maintenance building and a parking lot.

• The Batavia Park District -$400,000 to add ballfield lighting, a playground, canoe launch area and a BMX action park, as well as other amenities.

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•The Bedford Park District - $400,000 for renovation of the 10.5-acre community park to include a splash pad playground, a tot lot playground, a shelter, restrooms, baseball and softball fields.

•The Bensenville Park District-$265,000 for development of the first passive park site in the community. Development will include a wetland demonstration area, native plants, a woodland garden, sensory and therapeutic gardens, a shelter, interpretive displays and an environmental-themed playground.

• The City of Bloomington -$400,000 for renovation of Holiday Park Pool.

•The Champaign Park District -$400,000 to renovate Centennial Park Pool.

• The City of Charleston - $400,000 to renovate Rotary Pool.

• The City of Chicago - $576,000 to develop a 1.1-acre park. Plans include relocating the parking lot, removing the field house and adding a playground, an athletic field, a basketball/volleyball court and landscaped learning gardens.

• The City of Chicago - $381,100 to develop 6.8-acre Palmer Square Park to include a playground, walking trails, soft surface jogging trail, open lawn areas, lighting, seating and landscaping.

•The Chicago Park District -$856,800 for initial development of Kedvale Park to include a soccer field, a playground, a basketball court, a spray pool, landscaping, walkways, lighting, entry plazas and fencing.

• The Clark County Park District - $49,900 to further develop the Mill Creek Recreation Area by constructing a shelter, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a soccer/football field, parking and lighting.

•The Crete Park District-$163,100 to further develop Heritage Park with ballfields, a picnic shelter, two playgrounds and a skate park.

• The Decatur Park District -$352,500 to develop soccer fields at Mound Park. The project also includes the lighting of two existing soccer fields at the soccer complex and a walking path around Mound Park.

• The DeKalb County Forest Preserve District - $70,000 to further develop Potawatomi Woods Forest Preserve with water service, picnic shelters, an interpretive trail with signage and an observation deck, play equipment, a canoe launch and landscaping.

• The Dundee Township Park District - $269,900 for initial development of Silverstone Lakes Park in Carpentersville. Development will include baseball fields, soccer fields, a playground and an exercise path.

• The City of Elgin - $400,000 to further develop Continental Park by adding a boat launch, fishing pier, a playground, shelters, parking, shoreline stabilization and habitat enhancement. The ballfields will also be improved.

• The Elk Grove Park District - $400,000 for construction of a new pool, tot pool, in-line skating/ice rink, a picnic area and pathways in Rainbow Falls Water Theme Park.

• The City of Evanston - $400,000 for redevelopment of Mason Park. Construction will include upgrading the playgrounds, basketball courts, baseball fields, walkways and site furnishings.

• The Village of Fairmount -$30,300 for renovation of the existing community park.

• The Frankfort Park District - $221,000 to build shelters, a playground, ballfields, a skate park, a fishing pier, basketball courts, open play areas, walking path and restrooms at Jackson Creek Park

• The Frankfort Square Park District - $144,000 to improve Union Creek Park with a fenced dog park area, a teen performance shelter, a new playground and a therapeutic sensory garden.

•The Franklin Park District -$151,500 to redevelop Robinson Crusoe Park. Plans include a playground, a tee-ball field, a ball practice area with batting stations, basketball shoot-around and a water spray ground.

•The Geneva Park District -$400,000 to develop Mill Creek Community Park. Proposed facilities include ballfields, football fields, an access road, parking, a shelter, a playground, interpretive paths and wetland/prairie restoration.

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•The Genoa Township Park District -$192,900 to develop a new 4.11- acre neighborhood park. Amenities will include an interpretive/walking path, a playground, a picnic pavilion and landscaping.

• Grayslake Park District - $400,000 to restore and expand resources at Central Park. Planned development includes three group picnic shelters, a community scale playground, an interactive water splash pad, a senior citizen recreation area, accessible fishing overlooks and an amphitheater.

• The Gurnee Park District - $283,500 for initial development of Churchill Hunt Park. Proposed development will include habitat restoration in the woods and wetlands, walking paths, interpretive trails and signs, a playground, a shelter and a teen skate area.

• The Hanover Park District - $350,900 to redevelop Heritage Park in Hanover Park. The project includes the renovation of the basketball and tennis courts, playground improvements, erosion control measures around the lake, a fishing pier, lighting and a new pavilion.

• Hebron Township - $246,100 to develop a new 10-acre community park.

• Homer Township - $365,000 to develop the 50-acre Trantina Farm.

• Johnson County - $338,900 to develop a sports complex near Vienna.

• The Joliet Park District - $200,000 to upgrade facilities at the Inwood Sports Complex. New additions to the park will include a skate park, regulation horseshoe pits, a bocce ball area, a walking trail, playground rehabilitation and a gazebo.

• The Kane County Forest Preserve District - $344,100 to develop the Dick Young Preserve. Proposed site features include interpretive trails and signs, hiking and equestrian trails, a 1.5-mile extension of the regional bike path, interpretive and picnic shelters, prairie and wetland habitat restoration, access areas and parking.

• Lemont Township - $400,000 to develop 58 acres for passive recreation opportunities in Heritage Woodland Sanctuary Park.

• The City of Madison - $120,000 to develop Chouteau Island.

• The Village of Maryville - $99,100 to make improvements to Drost Park.

• Memorial Park District - $400,000 to redevelop Stevenson Park in Bellwood. Proposed facilities will include a water playground, a children's playground, a senior citizens' area, a walking path, a picnic shelter, a gazebo with stone amphitheater, a fishing pond and pier and lighting for the basketball courts.

•The Metro East Park and Recreation District -$400,000 to develop the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park. Proposed development will include picnic shelters, a terraced picnic area, multi-use trails, interpretive signs, natural habitat enhancement, an observation deck and parking.

•The Mundelein Park and Recreation District - $400,000 to develop a 7-acre aquatic facility. Phase four of this multi-phased project will include a zero depth pool, bathhouse, concession area, and sun and shade areas.

• The Naperville Park District - $400,000 to further develop the 80-acre Commissioners Park site. Phase II development includes four half-court basketball courts, a playground, a fishing pier, a skateboard/in-line skate facility, fitness stations for the multi-use trail, two lighted sand volleyball courts and a picnic shelter with restrooms.

• The City of New Canton - $51,100 to renovate a 3-acre park.

•The New Lennox Community Park District -$400,000 to develop a 4.4-acre park. Amenities include two shelters, sand volleyball courts, a playground area, interior walkways, an open play area, landscaping and parking.

• The Peoria Park District - $320,000 to develop a new 34-acre park site. Facilities include tennis courts, a playground, soccer and baseball fields, two shelters, a fishing pier, a multi-use trail, a skate park, a basketball court and a parking area.

• The City of Pinckneyville - $38,200 to develop an accessible fishing pier, two pavilions and a parking area.

• The Village of Rankin - $50,300 to complete the development of a 0.6-acre site.

• The Village of Rockton - $396,700 to renovate and add new facilities.

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•The Roselle Park District - $258,500 to redevelop Turner Park. Phase one includes a new playground, a splash pad, a fishing pier, a basketball/volleyball court, additional pathways, landscaping, a picnic shelter and parking lot improvements.

• The Village of Savoy - $400,000 to develop a community park.

• The City of Silvis - $81,800 to develop 10 acres.

• The Village of South Elgin -$212,000 to develop a 10-acre park site.

• The City of Spring Valley -$150,800 to renovate Kirby Park.

•The St. Charles Park District -$391,300 to develop a 46-acre site in eastern St. Charles. Amenities include nine soccer fields, a playground, a fishing pond and pier, one mile of pathway with exercise stations, a picnic shelter and parking.

• The Village of St. Joseph -$400,000 to develop a community park.

• The Sycamore Park District -$306,400 to develop a 13-acre park site, which includes a nine-acre pond. Amenities include a fishing pier, a picnic shelter, a parking area, a multi-use trail around the site and a bike and pedestrian bridge over the Kishwaukee River for a path connection to the north.

• The City of Venice - $148,900 to develop a 1-acre park site.

• The Warrenville Park District -$302,000 to develop a 5.17-acre parcel adjacent to an existing park site. Planned development includes a new baseball/softball field, a soccer/football field, a picnic shelter, tennis courts, an inline skating area, a playground, pathway improvements, interpretive signs and parking lot improvements.

• The Washington Park District -$400,000 to renovate Washington Park Pool. A new bathhouse will be constructed and improvements will be made to the existing pool. A new picnic shelter and playground will also be constructed

• The Will County Forest Preserve District - $400,000 to develop the 620-acre Messenger Marsh Preserve in northeast Will Co. Amenities include a group picnic shelter, latrine, wildlife observation overlooks, primitive camping sites, an improved parking area and 1.5 miles of multi-use trails.

• The Winnebago Park District - $325,200 to develop a 26-acre site. Planned development includes baseball and softball fields, horseshoe and bocce ball pitches, sand volleyball courts and a playground.

• The Winnetka Park District -$250,000 to renovate a 17-acre site. Improvements include the renovation of a picnic shelter into an interpretive center, a new picnic area, an additional pathway with a boardwalk through the natural area, additional plantings and benches.

• The City of Yorkville - $128,000 to develop a 3.3-acre neighborhood park site.

The Open Space Land Acquisition Grants are funded with a portion of the real estate transfer tax. The IAPD was instrumental in lobbying for the legislation that started the program in 1986. Since then, the efforts of IAPD and IPRA advocates have overcome legislative threats to the program in 2002 and 2004.

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