$13.3 Million Allotted For Tinley's Harmony Square Plaza Vision

TINLEY PARK, IL — Bringing to fruition the vision of a downtown plaza in Tinley Park could potentially cost the Village an estimated $13.3 million, earmarked in the Village's budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Officials signed off on the budget at their April 18 meeting. The allocated funding will bring to realization the Village's plans for a bustling downtown plaza at Oak Park Avenue and North Street in Downtown Tinley. Officials last month announced they had secured the final parcel needed and a partnership with a developer to move forward with the plans.

Designed by the Lakota Group, the plaza will be constructed on 1.6 acres and will include an adaptive plaza space that will have events scheduled year-round. Features will include an artificial turf lawn, a concert stage and a focal “gateway” plaza on the other, seasonal fire pits, a splash pad for summer that converts into an ice rink during the winter, and a support building for skate rentals and a warming hut, as well as other amenities.

"Harmony Square is part of a bigger plan to redevelop Downtown Tinley, which is already underway with the opening of the Boulevard at Central Station and the many new businesses along Oak Park Avenue," Mayor Mike Glotz said previously. "Once complete, it will be the living room of Tinley Park, a central hub where people will come to hang out and relax."

The budget also includes a slight decrease in the revenue in the General Fund, down just over $1 million to $71.5 million, from $72.2 million for the fiscal year ending soon.

Sales tax revenue is expected to increase in the new fiscal year, from $25.8 million, to $26.5 to $26.5 million.

The full budget is available online for viewing.

Other highlights:

• $41.2 million: expected total in capital spending (including Harmony Square)
  • Up from $7 million in the current fiscal year

• $2.4 million: to be used for a helipad at the Tinley Park Fire facility on 183rd Street
• $877,000: for an aerial ladder truck for the fire department
• $775,000: for sidewalk improvements
  • Up from $45,000 in the current fiscal year
• $7.8 million: fire department spending
  • Increased from $6.1 million in the current year.
• $19.6 million: police department spending
  • Up from $17.5 million, to accommodate salary increases and benefits
• $287,000: expected Metra commuter lot revenue