The Park District of Oak Park has received a $600,000 grant related to the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant from Illinois that will be used to help renovate Longfellow Park in 2026.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration awarded $55.2 million in OSLAD grants in December 2024 to 100 communities in the state for park development projects.
“Since I became Governor, it’s been my mission to build stronger, healthier communities across Illinois,” Pritzker said in a news release. “Through the OSLAD program, we’re bringing that vision to life by awarding over $55.2 million to local park projects, expanding green spaces and creating new recreational opportunities for all.”
According to the PDOP news release, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments. It funds acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation. Since its establishment in 1986, $640 million has been awarded through OSLAD.
Longfellow Park, located at 610 Ridgeland Avenue, has a full court basketball area, tennis courts and splash pad available in the summer. It was named after the author and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
A renovation for Longfellow Park, expected in spring of 2026, is part of the PDOP’s capital improvement plan. The $600,000 grant will help fund a new playground, splash pad, pickleball courts and sensory garden.
“We are thrilled and deeply grateful to have been awarded this grant to improve our parks,” Jan Arnold, executive director of the PDOP, said in the release. “This funding will allow us to enhance the spaces that bring our community together, support health and wellness, and connect people with nature. These improvements represent our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional parks for everyone in Oak Park.”