CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign Park District and the Champaign County Forest Preserve District are among the 100 recipients of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants distributed through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, State Senator Paul Faraci announced Thursday.

“All communities deserve the same opportunities to flourish,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “This funding will help create spaces where everyone – regardless of ability – can come together and connect. I’m proud to support these projects and the opportunities they will bring to the residents of our district.”

More than $55 million in state grants are being awarded for 100 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities. In Faraci’s district, the Champaign Park District will receive $600,000 to develop an All Abilities Activity Hub, while the Champaign County Forest Preserve will be awarded over $1.1 million through the OSLAD program.  

Established by the General Assembly in 1986, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. It has become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment 38 years ago, OSLAD has awarded $640 million for park projects throughout Illinois.

“This round of OSLAD grants represents long-awaited projects from the smallest villages of rural Illinois to Chicago and the suburbs,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “There is an impressive amount of work, creativity, and ambition that goes into planning new outdoor recreational facilities, and I’m delighted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is able to play a small part in helping communities thrive.”

For more information about the OSLAD grant program and to see a full list of recipients, visit IDNR’s website.