Evanston Skate Park Project Gets $400,000 Grant From State Program

EVANSTON, IL — The project to build a new skate park in Evanston received a $400,000 matching grant through a state program.

Construction on the new skate park, planned for the east side of Twiggs Park, is expected to begin in Spring 2023.

City staff are preparing construction documents and scheduled to open the project up to bids from contractors next month, according to a timeline presented at a May public meeting about the project.

The funding comes in the form of a matching grant administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Illinois Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, program, which is funded through a portion of the state real estate transfer tax.

The grant program can provide up to half of the cost of a development or renovation project, up to $400,000.

The Evanston City Council authorized the grant application in August 2021. At the time, staff recommended the city set aside $750,000 in funding for the program.

"With initial public engagement for the project already in progress and the park's location in a CDBG [Community Development Block Grant] target area, staff believes that the project is an excellent candidate for the OSLAD program," Stefanie Levine, project manager, said in a memo to the council.

"If the OSLAD grant is awarded to the City of Evanston, the City can elect to either expand the project scope, or significantly reduce the local funding commitment required to implement the project," Levine said.

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Last month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the planned Twiggs skate park was one of 87 local park projects slated to receive a total of $30.3 million in grants through the program this year. In a statement, the governor said spending on parks is an investment in communities.

"Park projects don’t just create jobs and boost local economic development — they open the gateway for a healthier, happier Illinois," Pritzker said. "Every family in our state deserves nearby access to outdoor public spaces where they can gather with their friends and neighbors — and enjoy some sunshine, too."

Evanston's old skate park installation operated at Crown Park in the paved lot east of the old Robert Crown Center, but it was discontinued after its wood degraded, according to the city's project webpage, which noted skateboarders in Fountain Square cause increased wear and tear and maintenance costs.

"While providing dedicated skate park space(s) in Evanston does not guarantee that skating will not occur in other locations," it said, "it does provide an outlet for this legitimate recreational activity frequently enjoyed by the City’s teen residents."