SPRINGFIELD – May 6, 2009. At the Illinois Association of Park Districts Legislative Conference in Springfield, Governor Pat Quinn announced $21.2 million in grants for 59 park development and land acquisition projects throughout Illinois.
“These kinds of projects help strengthen the fabric of local communities throughout Illinois,” said Governor Quinn. “We are investing in parks, playgrounds, picnic tables and fishing piers to help get our children outdoors and reduce nature deficit disorder.”
Fifty-nine projects are being funded statewide through the 2009 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program facilitated through Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Of those, 10 will result in the purchase of new land and 49 will focus on outdoor recreation development.
Outdoor recreation projects include (some projects fit into multiple categories):
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12 development projects for facilities that promote environmental and wetland studies,
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11 projects that will provide initial recreation development of park sites for their respective communities,
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19 development projects that will provide new playground equipment,
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8 projects that will create water based recreation by constructing access to lakes, rivers or streams,
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8 projects that will include water play features known as “spraygrounds”, and
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2 projects that will provide in-line skating/roller hockey or skateboard areas.
“These grants are vital to the goal of leaving no child inside and helping to fashion future stewards of our natural resources,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller.
The $21.2 million awarded throughout the state this year combined with the grantee’s minimum 50 percent share will result in more than $42.4 million of local acquisition and development projects to enhance the quality of life in Illinois. The amount awarded each year for the OSLAD program is based on the condition of the housing market, because the grants are funded through a percentage of the real estate transfer tax.
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