PEORIA- With strong support from Senator Dave Koehler, the Pleasure Driveway Park District of Peoria will receive $600,000 from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant to help continue ongoing improvements.

“Local parks are essential in community building especially in a time when it is more common for adults and children alike reach for a phone instead of racing to the swings,” Said Koehler (D-Peoria). “By revitalizing the park, we hope to see a renewed sense of excitement in spending time in the outdoors and meeting your fellow neighbors.”

OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. It’s become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment, OSLAD has awarded $675 million for park projects throughout Illinois.

A total of $36 million in grant funding was awarded to 67 local park projects across Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities. In Koehler’s district, the Pleasure Driveway Park District received $600,000 to improve Chartwell Park.

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website for more information on the OSLAD grants.