The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is beckoning local communities to apply for a share of the $54 million in park development grants made available as of July 1. The Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program is a state initiative offering financial support to local government agencies for creating and enhancing public parks and outdoor recreation areas, with applications accepted through Sept. 13.
According to an official release, the OSLAD grants function as a match program, where recipients receive 50% of the grant amount up front for development projects after a grant agreement is arranged. Local agencies must prove they have the funds to cover the remaining cost of any approved project before they are provided with the rest of the grant money. Additionally, IDNR is making a concerted effort to aid economically distressed communities by footing 100% of eligible project costs in those areas, following January's award where 32 underserved locations received grants.
"I encourage any community that is considering a park development or improvement project to apply for an OSLad grant. Parks and green spaces are the heart of our neighborhoods and communities," Natalie Phelps Finnie, IDNR Director, emphasized the value of local parks in the public discourse. She further stressed the importance of investments in the outdoors as "an investment in the health and well-being of the people of Illinois."
Since its inception in 1986 by the Illinois General Assembly, the OSLAD program has distributed over $585 million to various park projects across Illinois. Funded by a slice of the state's Real Estate Transfer Tax, the program has solidified its reputation among local governments looking to enhance their communal spaces. Agencies interested in this financial opportunity must be registered on the state's Grant Accountability and Transparency Act grantee portal prior to the grant application, which must be submitted via the Amplifund portal by 5 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2024.
Understanding the complexities of grant applications, the IDNR and the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) are offering a training webinar on Sept. 17 to assist applicants in navigating the Amplifund application. IAPD members are instructed to register on the IAPD website, whereas non-members can join the session by using the passcode 986269 online or they can participate in the webinar by calling 309-205-3325 or 312-626-6799 with the provided passcode. The webinar ID is 880-7945-4324. For those seeking more details about the OSLAD grants, further information can be found by visiting the assigned state website or by calling 217-782-7481.
