Rauner's doing this because we're broke
Let me see if I got this figured out.
Governor Rauner is slowing and stopping state grants/funds for park district projects. This is terrible, awful, cruel, un-American, however, I deeply suspect he is doing this because Illinois is broke. Illinois is number one on the deadbeat list. We owe everybody about everything.
Here is a plan. These funds could be borrowed by the park districts direct, at much better interest rates. When done this way, it takes the state out of the picture. The district can build it without the state hovering over the design, the materials, the hourly labor rates, even the location of the project. Your park district gets a piece of your property tax, which can be partially used to fund or pay for the improvement bonds. I am sure the credit rating of the district is considerably better than the state's.
Another source could be the feds. They always seem to have a program/grants if you want to dance to their tune. Perhaps if we would declare the playground politically correct, ergonomically, and enviro-friendly, we should be able to qualify for some sort of grant.
The present method is to take out 25-year bonds so that your grandchildren have to pay off what you wanted now.
Dushan Lipensky
Wheaton