$2.8M Awarded To Northbrook Park District From Grant: Pritzker

NORTHBROOK, IL — Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday the Northbrook Park District will be receiving $2.8 million in state grant funding as part of his Rebuild Illinois capital program. The money is awarded to local governments throughout the state for construction, renovation, and improvement of buildings or land purchases for public recreational opportunities.

In all, $28 million is being awarded to 13 municipalities and government agencies, according to a news release from Pritzker's office. The funding comes from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act, or PARC, grant program and is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

For the Northbrook Park District specifically, the funding will go toward the following, according to Pritzker's office:

"Plans are to renovate the interior of the Leisure Center to respond to a growing demand for diverse recreational program offerings. The project includes adding a knowledge center, an innovation lounge, a sensory/de-escalation lounge, and a technology and training room. It also includes renovating multipurpose rooms, activity studios, demonstration kitchen, a costume shop, a flexible performance space, and making restrooms ADA-compliant and gender-neutral."

According to officials, the PARC grant program provides up to 90 percent of project costs to help build, renovate, and improve recreational buildings used by the public or purchase land to be used for public access and recreational purposes, with local governments matching the value of the grants awarded.

"Public recreational spaces promote wellness, all while safeguarding the environment, and I look forward to visiting these modernized facilities once they are up and running," Pritzker said.