DuPage parks, forest district reap state grants

Numerous area park and forest preserve districts will share roughly $18.2 million in grants that can be used to buy land or build amenities such as trails, playgrounds and athletic fields, state officials said Friday.

The latest batch of Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grants will fund 48 projects in northern Illinois, including some in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Lisle and Naperville.

Here's a quick look at who's getting what:

• The city of Aurora will receive $400,000 to provide new recreational amenities at the 325-acre Phillips Park, including a splash pad, dog park, skate park, volleyball court, multiuse trail with fitness stations, floating boat docks, fencing and lighting for ball fields and shoreline restoration work at Mastodon Lake.

• Bloomingdale Park District will receive $295,000 to improve Lakeview Park on Broker Road, including adding a playground area, shelter, fishing pier, native landscaping, parking, path improvements and field upgrades.

"Obviously we're thrilled to get the grant," Director Steve Scholten said. "It's a really interesting and fun project for the park and something we wouldn't have been able to pay for on our own."

• Downers Grove Park District will receive $750,000 to acquire 4.9 acres along Walnut Avenue with an eye toward developing two soccer fields, a shelter, a looped walking trail and parking.

• DuPage County Forest Preserve District will receive $252,000 to redevelop a former 12-acre swimming beach at Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenville. Planned improvements include a public archery range, a shelter, fishing pier, trail head access to a regional bike trail system and parking lot upgrades.

The work would not have proceeded if the state grant didn't come through to pay for half the project, Planning Director Andrea Hoyt said.

She said the development is a first step in sparking new interest and use of Blackwell.

"If it becomes popular it just means the next phase may mean even more improvements," Hoyt said.

• Fox Valley Park District will receive $400,000 to develop the 34-acre Spring Lake Park at McCoy Road and Gregory Street in Aurora. Project components include a multiage playground, shelter, canoe launch and fishing pier on a 20-acre lake along with paths, sports fields and parking improvements.

• The village of Lisle will receive $400,000 to develop a new 4.5-acre park in downtown. A 2-acre pond being constructed separately will be surrounded with a lighted recreation trail, native plants with interpretive signs, a gazebo, a nature-themed playground and a spray park.

"We're just delighted," said Cathy Schuster, the village's economic development director. "It's a great amenity that we're going to be building for the community and it has so many wonderful features. We just can't wait to have the public start enjoying it."

Construction of the park, located at the northeast intersection of Route 53 and Burlington Avenue, already has started. The work is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

• Naperville Park District will receive $400,000 to add facilities to the 19-acre Winding Creek Park off Bailey Road. The project includes the renovation of existing ball fields and the playground, expansion of the parking lot, stabilization of the creek bank, additional native plants, a new soccer field, a multiuse trail and a nature overlook with interpretive signs.

"We're excited," said Eric Shutes, director of planning. "It will allow us to provide much-needed improvements to this park and at the same time allow the free-up of funding to expedite other projects already on our list for capital improvements."

The project is currently in the design phase but is expected to cost more than $800,000. Construction likely will take place in 2009.

• Will County Forest Preserve District will receive $400,000 for the initial development of Rock Run Rookery Preserve off Channahon and Young roads.