BUFFALO GROVE — The City of Waukegan, Vernon Hills Park District and Mundelein Park and Recreation District have all received a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant to help continue their ongoing improvements, thanks to strong support from State Senator Adriane Johnson.

“Bettering our local park districts goes far beyond beautification,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Gove). “This funding enriches our communities, fostering health, connection, and a vibrant quality of life for all.”

As a strong advocate for local park districts and recreation development, Johnson supported funding for economically distressed communities, resulting in 29 underserved locations receiving $17.3 million in grants from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, program.

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 $640 million for park projects throughout Illinois.

More than $55.2 million in state grants are being awarded for 100 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities.

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