Alleghany Park now open in Grayslake

Grayslake's Alleghany Park has become reality, culminating a process that began about four years ago with taxpayer approval to borrow $4 million for the project.

Alleghany Park is a 95-acre site on the village's south end. It's on the east side of Alleghany Road, between Route 120 and Peterson Road.

Grayslake Park District residents gave their blessing to the new facility in 2004 when they approved a tax-increase referendum. The park district won the right to borrow $4 million for the development.

In addition, the state has provided more than $1 million in grants for Alleghany Park. The most recent grant was announced in April, with $400,000 earmarked for purchase and development of 20 acres adjacent to Alleghany Park.

Park District Executive Director Bob Lashbrook said the new facility is more than half-finished, with tennis courts and additional grass seeding still in the works. He said Alleghany Park looks as good as he envisioned it four years ago.

"It's nice to have a park with adequate parking," Lashbrook said. "The playground is very impressive. It'll get a lot of use all year long."

Here are some numbers connected to Alleghany Park:

• $125,000: Combined amount donated by Grayslake Youth Baseball Association and village of Grayslake government for the lighting of two diamonds. The association chipped in $50,000, with the rest covered by the village.

• 1: Concession stand operator. Mitch's Chicago Style Grill struck an agreement to serve food at the park this year.

• 3: The number of picnic shelters available for public use. That number also applies to the acres covered by a fishing pond.

• 2: Number of tennis courts that'll be constructed.

• 350: Roughly how many vehicles that can be accommodated in the parking lot.

Park district officials held a grand opening celebration May 10.

"We're just really proud of it," Lashbrook said. "It really exceeded our expectations."