Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Village of Grandview is getting important money that will help build something that its president says would still be a dream without the money.

According to a state news release, Grandview will be getting a $600,000 grant from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program.  “Established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments which helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects,” said the release.  “It’s become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment, OSLAD has awarded $675 million for park projects throughout Illinois.”

Grandview, according to the news release, will be building a sports park.  Among the amenities planned for the park are:

  • Two bocce ball and pickleball courts
  • Two soccer fields
  • A basketball court
  • A five-foot-wide walking path
  • Fencing along the north and east sides
  • Grading for storm water prevention

Grandview, while a community inside Springfield, is also, with a population of 1,400, considered a “distressed community.”  The state says Governor JB Pritzker made sure money was earmarked inside the program for such communities.

“This project represents far more than new courts and walking paths. It represents opportunity, equity and investment in the people of Grandview,” said Mia Ray, Grandview Village President, in the news release.  “For a small, economically challenged community like ours, OSLAD funding is the difference between having a vision and being able to bring that vision to life. This grant allows us to create a safe, accessible, and inclusive space where residents of all ages can be active, connect with one another, and take pride in their community.”

According to the news release, two projects inside Springfield will also be getting $600,000 OSLAD grants:  the City of Springfield’s Lake Springfield Center Park for work there, and the Springfield Park District’s Dreamland Park for redevelopment.

The OSLAD program is administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.