$400k grant to benefit Elgin park

With a bit of help from the state government, Elgin is forging ahead with plans to build a park on Plank Road.

State Rep. Keith Farnham announced Friday that he secured a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant program. Elgin will use the funds to start the first phase of the park. A 224-acre field sits there today. Once completed, the park will become the city’s 70th.

“In these difficult times when local governments are working with minimal resources, this grant is important to help with economic development of the area,” Farnham said in a news release. “This grant will create jobs and attract businesses and families moving into the area.”

Once phase one is over, the field will house a parking lot, at least one tennis court, an entryway, two basketball courts, a shelter and a pathway. The city will name the park once it’s ready for play — its temporary name is Elgin Regional Park.

Phase one costs $950,000 and the grant pays for about half, Parks and Recreation Director Randy Reopelle said.

The money, meanwhile, came as a pleasant surprise. Given the state’s rocky financial footing, Reopelle didn’t expect a grant at all.

“We heard they weren’t going to issue one,” he said.

Authorities will spend the rest of this year planning the design and engineering for phase one — it is not yet known how many phases the park requires.

Construction on the first phase will start next spring and should be completed by the end of 2012.