Oak Park’s paddle enthusiasts will soon have another place to play pickle ball.
Construction on planned renovations at Longfellow Park began this week, the Park District of Oak Park announced on social media. The renovations were put in motion after the park district was awarded a $600,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant from the state.
Longfellow Park, located at 610 S. Ridgeland Ave., has a full-length basketball court area, tennis courts and a splash pad available in the summer. It was named after the author and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The old playground equipment at the park will be donated to Kids Around the World, an organization that upcycles old playground equipment and gives them to under-resourced communities globally, the park district announced.
Construction at the park is expected to be completed by this fall, according to the park district.
“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 a previous news release about the project. “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.”
The grant program provides funding assistance to local government agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and open space, according to the park district. The updated park will include four dedicated pickleball courts, an expanded splash pad, a sensory garden and a new playground, according to the park district.
The state awarded $55.2 million in OSLAD grants in December 2024 to 100 communities in the state for park development projects, including Oak Park.
“Since I became governor, it’s been my mission to build stronger, healthier communities across Illinois,” Gov. JB 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.”
