CHICAGO – State Senator Bill Cunningham announced the Oak Lawn Park District and Worth Park District will each receive $600,000 in grant funding for local park projects.

“It might be wintertime and a lot of people aren’t thinking about their local parks, but the programming that park districts provide for our community are such an asset to the Southwest Suburbs,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “I am happy to have helped secure funding for our park districts so they can continue to provide safe and fun activities for families.”

The grant funding is provided through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program. A total of $55.2 million was awarded to 100 local park projects across the state.

Oak Lawn will use the $600,000 to update Lake Shore Park. The project is expected to be completed in 2026. Read more about it here.

Worth Park District will use the $600,000 grant to develop Stahlak Park, an approximate half-acre open space site located at the intersection of 111^th Street and Natchez Avenue in Worth. The park was named in honor of Frank Stahlak, a community activist and the first board president when the park district was formed in 1965.

“This is the third OSLAD grant that the Park District has received in the last four years,” said Robert O’Shaughnessy, Director of Parks and Recreation at the Worth Park District. “We have been very fortunate to have this program, which ultimately allows great things for the community. When the development is finished, I am confident it will be a wonderful tribute to Mr. Stahlak and his family.”

To learn more about OSLAD grant funding, click here.