LITH parks department receives $100k state grant

New bathrooms and other improvements are in store for Sunset Park in Lake in the Hills, thanks to a grant the parks and recreation department received from the state.

The $100,000 grant comes from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which was funded through the capital bill.

Permanent bathrooms are at the top of the list, authorities said.

Right now, there are two toilets at the concession stand and eight portable toilets inside the 125-acre park, said Trudy Wakeman, director of parks and recreation.

The permanent bathrooms would feature timed locks, to help free up staff and police from manual lockups in the evenings.

The locks would have another function as well.

“We've had vandalism in the bathrooms, so this might eliminate that, she said.

The remaining portion of the grant would also pay for bleachers that would seat 42 people on the softball field; right now spectators watch the games from three picnic tables that seat six people each.

The money will also help pay for a smart trash can that senses when it's full and self compacts.

It holds up to four cans of compacted trash, Wakeman said.

“That would save staff time in emptying garbage, she said.

The goal is to complete all the work during 2011.