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Des Plaines approves funding for Apache Park improvements

Des Plaines city council Monday night allocated $93,800 in federal Community Development Block Grant monies to improve Des Plaines Apache Park. In program year 2010, the city directed $189,100 of the $361,100 federal grant money, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for projects involving emergency home repair, housing rehabilitation, and home and lead-based paint inspection programs. Yet, the demand for housing rehabilitation assistance has been low this year, officials said. City officials agreed to help out the Des Plaines Park District with improvements at Apache Park, which is located in a neighborhood with high residential density, minority and low-income population and therefore is eligible for the federal grant money. The proposal is to improve the playground, basketball court and baseball field, and install benches, lighting and landscaping. The park district will conduct a public meeting allowing residents of the neighborhood to weigh in on proposed improvements.