Byron Park District awarded OSLAD Grants for Land Acquisition and Park Re-development

BYRON – We have some very exciting news to start the New Year! On Saturday, Jan 3 Governor Quinn announced that 75 park and recreation agencies throughout the State will receive a total of $26,072,000 in Open Space Land Acquisition & Development (OSLAD) grants for FY15! The Byron Park District was fortunate to be one of those agencies and in addition was also one of only three agencies that were awarded two OSLAD grant funds. The Park District can receive a total of $345,200 in OSLAD funds with $298,500 designated for the re-development of Hamas Park and $46,700 for the land acquisition of some riverfront property in Byron, which will later to be developed into a park.

The Park District recently attained Hamas Park from the City of Byron. The re-development project includes a balanced mix of passive and active elements, including an entrance plaza, playground components, re-development of the pathway for ADA accessibility and added lighting, picnic table pads along the path, parking spaces, community marque, park sign, native landscaping, tree placements, and boat docks. In addition, the park will also receive two river overlooks, two fishing stations, and shoreline restoration all to improve recreational fishing opportunities.

We are also grateful to Governor Quinn for his commitment to funding parks, recreation and open space and IDNR Director, Marc Miller for his support of the OSLAD program. OSLAD remains one of the State’s most successful grant programs due, in large part, to the significant return the State receives for its investment. In fact, the agencies awarded the grants will be matching (and in most cases exceeding) the State’s share of the funding, the State is guaranteed a 100% return or “twice the bang for its buck.”

Please contact the Park District Executive Director at 815-234-6232 if you have any questions, or visit our website at www.byronparkdistrict.com.