Sugar Grove, Aurora, Kane parks agencies get state grants

The Sugar Grove Park District, the Fox Valley Park District and the Kane County Forest Preserve District are each due to receive $400,000 from the state for building and improving parks.

The governor’s office this week announced the recipients of the annual Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants, totaling more than $15 million. The maximum grant for parks development is $400,000. Land acquisition grants top out at $750,000. The grants are vetted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

In Sugar Grove, the money will be used to start work on Harter Community Park, near the football field at Kaneland Harter Middle School. The park district plans to have three ball fields, a multiuse court, paths, playground, a football practice field, Baggo courts and some natural areas at the park. The Kaneland school district will retain ownership of the land.

The forest preserve district will use its grant for developing 384 acres of the 741-acre Brunner Family Forest Preserve on Route 31 in West Dundee. It will be spent on parking, two shelters, trails along the edge of the Fox River, fishing stations, interpretive signs and habitat and wetland restoration.

The Fox Valley Park District intends to use its grant to redevelop Jericho Lake Park on Jericho Road. It will have trails, fishing areas, a canoe launch, a shelter, prairie and riparian area restoration, a playground, a disc golf course and improved parking.

Other suburban districts that will receive funds include Bensenville, which will receive $506,000; Buffalo Grove, $400,000; Itasca, $396,200; Naperville, $400,000; West Chicago, $118,800; and Wheeling, $266,900.