$600,000 Given For Park In La Grange

LA GRANGE, IL – The state is giving $600,000 for improvements to Gilbert Park in La Grange.

The planned improvements include a picnic shelter, playground, tennis courts, multipurpose court, pollinator garden and ping-pong table, according to a news release from the Park District of La Grange.

The grant will be combined with the money from a referendum that voters passed in November's election, the district said.

In the referendum, the district promised improvements to parks across town. At Gilbert, officials said they planned to expand the parking lot, convert the fourth tennis court into a multipurpose court, and update three tennis courts and the 1990s-era playground.

“This grant marks another exciting step forward in our mission to enhance recreational opportunities and create spaces that bring our community together,” Jenny Bechtold, the district's executive director, said in the news release.

The district said it would share updates on the project's timeline and progress in the coming months.

A few days ago, the state announced grants for parks across the state. The money comes from the state's Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program.