$600,000 State Grant To Fund Major Renovations At Glencoe's West Park

GLENCOE, IL — The Glencoe Park District has been awarded a $600,000 grant to help fund major upgrades at West Park, district officials announced this week.

The grant, awarded through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, or IDNR, will help finance a series of improvements at the park.

The planned upgrades include a baseball and softball field with an artificial turf infield and new dugouts, alongside a smaller baseball field with a grass infield and improved spectator seating. Two pickleball courts will be added, addressing growing demand for the sport on the North Shore.

In addition, West Park will receive a new picnic shelter, an accessible walking path, and features such as a bocce ball court, shuffleboard court and game tables. Landscaping work will include the removal of invasive buckthorn and the planting of native plant screenings, accompanied by rain gardens with interpretive signage, according to district officials.

“The OSLAD grant funding is a testament to the collective effort to create healthier, more vibrant communities, enrich the lives of residents, and provide recreational opportunities for years to come,” said Lisa Sheppard, executive director of the Glencoe Park District.

"Implementing this grant will have a direct and positive impact on the residents of Glencoe, enhancing their access to recreational facilities and activities, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more enjoyable lifestyle for the community," Sheppard said in a statement.

The park district engaged the community extensively during the grant application process, hosting multiple public input meetings to vet and refine plans for West Park’s improvements. District officials said construction is expected to begin this year.

Gov. JB Pritzker and IDNR officials on Monday announced the Glencoe grant along with 99 other local park projects across Illinois, with $17.3 million set aside for economically distressed jurisdictions.

“Since I became Governor, it’s been my mission to build stronger, healthier communities across Illinois,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Through the OSLAD program, we’re bringing that vision to life by awarding over $55.2 million to local park projects, expanding green spaces and creating new recreational opportunities for all.”

The OSLAD program is a long-standing state initiative aimed at supporting local governments in acquiring land and developing public parks and outdoor recreational spaces.

Established by the state legislature in 1986, the program provides cost-sharing grants to communities, covering up to 50 percent of project costs — or up to 100 percent in economically distressed communities.

“This round of OSLAD grants represents long-awaited projects from the smallest villages of rural Illinois to Chicago and the suburbs,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “There is an impressive amount of work, creativity, and ambition that goes into planning new outdoor recreational facilities, and I’m delighted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources can play a small part in helping communities thrive.”

Funded through a portion of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax, the OSLAD program is one of the state's most popular grant programs, according to the governor's office. It has awarded $640 million for park projects since its inception. Last year, the program awarded nearly $60 million.