Grand Ridge Park set for upgrades after village receives $300,000 OSLAD grant

Grand Ridge Park is expected to see significant improvements thanks to a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program.

Grand Ridge Village President Kay Hines confirmed that the village has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the OSLAD program, which will help fund upgrades to the park, although additional fundraising will be needed to cover the full costs.

“We’ve had the park for quite some time, and there’s a lot of unused space,” Hines said. “We’ve developed a map with proposed features, including a splash pad, basketball hoop, tennis and pickleball courts, and a walking track around the park.”

The splash pad is expected to be the most expensive feature, and Hines said it will depend on the amount of funding the village can raise. She noted the OSLAD grant is based on a 50-50 match, meaning the village must match an additional $300,000 to complete the project.

“We couldn’t get 100% like Marseilles did recently,” Hines said. “Marseilles' income per residence is lower, so they received a full grant. But we’re making do with what we have, and we’re committed to getting this park upgraded.”

The park is located at the end of Washington Street and has a shelter with a kitchen area, including running water and electricity, as well as a playground and a tee ball field.

The village recently invested in the shelter, but Hines emphasized that she wants to make the park more attractive and accessible to a range of residents.

“Our biggest concern is that the park isn’t being used enough right now,” she said. “We’re hoping that by adding these new features, more people will visit and enjoy the space.”