EVERGREEN PARK – State Senator Bill Cunningham and Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton announced the Village of Evergreen Park will soon receive $700,000 from state programs aimed at park construction, road work and storm drain upgrades.

The village's new 50-Acre Park at 91st and California Ave. will receive a $500,000 state grant to establish a farm and garden program for children with disabilities, while the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will provide Evergreen Park with $200,000 to improve city infrastructure, patch potholes and install new storm drains.

Cunningham and Sexton were joined at 50-Acre Park during the Labor Day weekend by Governor Pat Quinn to announce the awarding of the grants.

"Quality, well-maintained parks add value to the entire community," Cunningham said. "And that's particularly true when the parks provide us with much needed programs for a vulnerable segment of our population, like students with special needs.” Cunningham said. "Mayor Sexton and the residents of Evergreen Park have a truly inspiring vision for 50-Acre Park, and I'm happy to have secured state funding to help make it a reality."
 
Cunningham said that the additional road improvement funding coming to Evergreen Park is much needed given the weather-related damage to area infrastructure that has occurred after a harsh winter and rainy summer.

“The recent, widespread suburban flooding highlights the need to improve and maintain our storm water systems. This investment will have the added benefit of creating area construction jobs, which is important to note during the Labor Day holiday,” Cunningham said.