Kenilworth Park District Gets $400,000 State Grant For Townley Field

KENILWORTH, IL — The plan to renovate Townley Field in Kenilworth received a $400,000 matching grant through a state program.

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.

Park district officials plan to move ahead with the Townley Field project in multiple stages, with work on the south end of the park to begin by the spring, according to park district officials.

Work on the north end of the field will have to wait until the completion of the renovations of Sears School in fall 2023.

"To accomplish these projects, we will need the financial support of the community," park district officials said in the village's spring newsletter. "Community outreach and fund raising will begin when we complete the plans."

According to the park district strategic plan approved in August 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic led district officials to explore improvements to the field, hiring the Plainfield-based firm Upland Design to assist.

"Resident participation in outdoor recreation programs has increased at an exponential rate due to the pandemic," it said. "Residents provided feedback through several surveys from the Park District, largely indicating their interest in improved outdoor recreation space, facilities, and programming."

Last month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the Townley Field project was one of 87 local park projects slated to receive a total of $30.3 million in grants through the program this year.

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

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.