Glen Ellyn Park District finds new use for grant funds

The Glen Ellyn Park District board has found a new use for a $30,000 state grant originally intended to help fund a safety village project.

The money will go instead to pay for shade structures and pond enhancements at Maryknoll Park, located at Route 53 and Pershing Avenue.

The safety village was to be located there, but the project was canceled in May after the seating of a new majority of park board commissioners emphasizing fiscal discipline. Just weeks before, the previous board authorized construction to begin on site.

The state funds had been secured by state Rep. Sandy Pihos in 2008, but after the new board voted to halt the project, park district staff talked with Pihos to see if the money could be used for another purpose.

Interim park district Executive Director Mike Fugiel said the funds could only be used at Maryknoll, and have to be used by the end of the year.

“She was able to help maintain the grant at the Maryknoll site for what it was we deemed appropriate,” Fugiel said.

The board allocated $20,000 of the grant for new three new shade structures at the splash park and one at the mini-golf course. The other $10,000 will go toward stone pond repairs and nearby landscaping at the north end of the park.