State To Give $15M For Cleanup Of Tinley Mental Health Center Land

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The State of Illinois will cover the hefty price tag of remediation and land development tied to the Tinley Mental Health Center acreage.

Soon to be sold for $1 to the Tinley Park-Park District, the 280 acres needs millions in problem-solving, including addressing contaminated land, asbestos-filled buildings and landfill areas. In the state's new budget signed Wednesday, Sen. Mike Hastings (D-Frankfort) secured a $15 million grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, to be used toward necessary work on the property.

"I’m really excited about it," Hastings told Patch. "I think that $15 million awarded as a grant is a sign of commitment from the state of Illinois to the community and the region, about the seriousness of cleaning up the land and making it one of the greatest recreation destinations in the south suburbs."

The funding is the latest development in a chain of events that will hand over the property to the park district. Legislation set to convey the land to the park district still awaits Gov. JB Pritzker's signature.

"We are very grateful and encouraged that the state has allocated funding to the Park District to finally clean up the property," said Park District Executive Director Shawn Roby. "We hope to additionally receive Gov. Pritzker’s support of House Bill 3743 to allow us to officially obtain the property and move forward first with the needed environmental cleanup of the site.

"Our vision for the property is supported by a wide range of residents, community groups and elected officials, and we hope to have the Governor’s support as well."

The property has been at the center of a tug of war between the park district and Village since late 2022, following the state's listing the vacant land and buildings among its surplus property in October 2022. By listing it, the state opened the acquisition process to all interested parties.

Among those vying for it were the park district and the Village of Tinley Park, both as sole entities. Last November, the park district formally bid on the property located at 7400-7600 W. 183rd St. The park district's bid shocked the Village, triggering what many have seen as an increasingly contentious relationship between the two. The resulting tension has led to cancelation of traditions, negation of handshake agreements and intergovernmental agreements, and harsh criticism from the community.

The park district in December gave a glimpse of its plans for the property, which would include a sports dome, hub of athletic fields, track and field facilities and open recreational space—plans they say received praise from more than a dozen legislators and public officials.

Phase 1 of property development includes a playground and sports facilities fully accessible for people living with special needs, multipurpose athletic fields, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with a track, a splash pad, concession stands, spectator stands, lighting, ample parking, as well as a pond, picnic areas and open green space.

A 2014 report from environmental agency Tetra Tech, cited by the Village in its own plans for the land issued in late March, describes the property as one with "a complex history and numerous environmental concerns." The report goes on to detail issues including asbestos-filled buildings, soccer fields atop toxic waste, leaking transformers, landfill areas, and "drums of waste materials, potentially hazardous liquids, as well as debris areas," the report states. In 2019, a followup inspection showed that the actions Tetra Tech recommended be taken by the state were not followed, including 24-hour surveillance of the property, removal of drummed waste, removal of asbestos and black mold, and emptying of underground storage tanks, according to the document.

Questions have long lingered regarding how the park district will fund such heavy, much-needed work on the property. In late March, officials responded to claims of a purported tax increase, stating instead that "state, federal and private money, not a tax increase" would be used.

Hastings said the grant would be critical to enabling the park district to fulfill its plans.

“We want this space in the heart of Tinley Park to represent the best our community has to offer," Hastings said, "and this funding and legislation will help transform the area into something we are proud of."