Chicago- Thanks to support from Senator Bill Cunningham, the southwest side and nearby suburbs received a combined total of $955,000 from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant to help continue ongoing improvements.

“Whether it be a child’s birthday party or for a club sporting event, our local parks are an essential gathering spot for every member of our community,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “With this investment, we are ensuring our community members can participate in the activities they enjoy safely.”

OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. 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.

A total of $36 million in grant funding was awarded to 67 local park projects across Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities. In Cunningham’s district, a combined $955,000 will be used to renovate portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs, which received $600,000 to make improvements to Worth Park District’s, Gale Moore Park and an additional $355,000 for the City of Palos Hills, Krasowski Park.

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website for more information on the OSLAD grants.