Skokie Park Receives $400,000 Matching Grant From State

SKOKIE, IL — The Skokie Park District is set to receive $400,000 of state money to renovate Central Park.

Park district officials said the $1.2 million redevelopment plan will include a new playground with a "ground is lava" theme, a splash pad, improved basketball courts, outdoor fitness stations, as well as new water fountains and fully repaved paths.

A public hearing was held in August 2021 to give nearby residents a chance to provide feedback, according to the district. Park district officials assured residents that improved landscaping, additional benches and accessible playground features would all be part of the plan.

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 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.

Last month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Central 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."

Construction at Central Park is expected to begin in the summer of 2023 and take about three months to complete, according to Executive Director Michelle Tuft.