Sterling, Morrison to receive state grant funding for park projects

STERLING – Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have announced over $55 million in grant funding for 100 park projects throughout the state, including parks in Sterling and Morrison.

This is the third consecutive year Pritzker has allocated funding for economically distressed communities, helping 29 underserved areas to receive $17.3 million in grants through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program, according to a news release. The recipient list was released Monday.

“This round of OSLAD grants represents long-awaited projects from the smallest villages of rural Illinois to Chicago and the suburbs,” IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said. “There is an impressive amount of work, creativity and ambition that goes into planning new outdoor recreational facilities, and I’m delighted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is able to play a small part in helping communities thrive.”

The Sterling Park District is set to receive $600,000 from the OSLAD program. Park District Director Larry Schuldt said the money will be used for several improvements to Thomas Park, including the construction of a new Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant playground and fishing platform.

“First is the pickleball courts, whose surfaces are in dire need of improvement,” Schuldt said. “All the concrete will be torn out and laid new. As we get into that process and review pricing, I’d love to be able to add two to three new courts.”

Schuldt said the park district also plans to resurface Thomas Park’s basketball court and expand parking on 12th Avenue. The entire project is estimated to cost $700,000, with the OSLAD grant covering the majority of the cost. Schuldt said he expects work to begin next summer.

Morrison is expected to receive $81,500. Parks and Recreation Director Nathan Jacobs said the grant money will be used to build a new ADA-compliant playground at the Morrison Sports Complex at 315 Bishop Road.

Jacobs said the city is reviewing three different options for the park and expects to break ground next year. Morrison’s award is a 50% matching grant, meaning the city will need to pick up the other half of the project’s total costs.

The OSLAD grant program was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986 as a cost-sharing program between state and local governments for parks and outdoor recreation projects. Since its inception, the OSLAD program has awarded $640 million for park projects across the state.