Buffalo Grove to finish Willow Stream Park upgrades despite freeze in state grant

The Buffalo Grove Park District Board unanimously decided to complete work on Willow Stream Park despite recent freezing of a state grant that was to pay for a significant part of the cost.

Work on the project was already underway when Gov. Bruce Rauner froze grant distribution because of the state's financial problems. Leaving the park in its current condition would be a safety risk, and many programs and events would likely have to be canceled, district staff told the park board, according to a news release.

The Willow Stream Park redevelopment project received an Open Space Land Acquisition Development grant in May 2013 for $400,000. Work on the $818,000 project began last summer.

The plan included improvements to the pathway system, including new pathways through wooded areas and the far east side of the park near the baseball fields, a nature playground, shelter and storage areas, new lighting, a shelter with a performance stage, and a warming house/shelter near the area where the ice skating rink is constructed during the winter. Scheduled to be completed this spring were pathways, the performance stage and shelter, the warming house/shelter, and a significant amount of landscape work.

“We all agreed that it was in the best interest of the community to move forward with this project, and sort out the financials with the state when they come to a final decision on this issue,” Executive Director Ryan Risinger said in the news release. “There has been some progress in Springfield on this issue and it is looking like the grant money we were promised will be received. We are very thankful that our local legislators have been supportive on this issue.”