Winfield Park District receives state grant for remodeling project
When Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced this week the state would spend $40 million on local construction projects through the "Rebuild Illinois" effort, the Winfield Park District got a nice-sized piece of the pie.
The park district is getting $2 million to remodel and enlarge its main building, the Charles R. Beggs Activity Center, 0N020 County Farm Road.
It is adding 6,000 square feet of space and remodeling another 6,000 square feet. Work will include replacing the gymnasium floor, remodeling locker rooms and adding more restrooms, according to Mark Pawlowski, the district's executive director.
The project is expected to cost roughly $4.9 million. Now that it knows it has the state funding, the district will put the project out to bid. The plan is to start construction this fall, Pawlowski said.
The park district's grant is under the Fast-Track Public Infrastructure Capital program, which is for projects ready to be started within 90 days.
"Investments aimed toward building modern infrastructure and fostering stronger and better-connected communities are at the center of our historic $45 billion capital plan," Pritzker said in a news release. "While COVID-19 continues to present extraordinary economic challenges, our planned infrastructure projects should not have to wait. From small communities downstate to those experiencing decades of underinvestment, these capital investments will provide an economic boost that will create jobs and spark additional community investment for years to come."
The Winfield project is the only suburban project on the list.
Other projects are in Opportunity Zones, areas the state has deemed to be distressed or "economically underserved" census tracts.
Ten projects are being funded, including $400,000 for neighborhood revitalization in DeKalb and $382,375 for water main replacement in Maywood.