The Rockford Park District will receive $400,000 to develop a winter activity center and family golf course at the Alpine Hills Activity Center on Larson Avenue off South Alpine Road – part of nearly $1 million in funding for northern Illinois recreational sites announced over the weekend.
A like amount is going to the City of LaSalle for the new Rotary Park on former Illinois Cement property on 5th Road. The project includes a baseball field, a picnic pavilion, extending the bike and hike trails, additional parking facilities and landscaping.
The Village of Ashtonin Lee County will receive $117,500 to construct a splash pad and restrooms near the existing school playground cooperation with the school and the Blum Foundation.
The City of Galena in Jo Daviess County was granted $73,900 to develop Galena Gateway Park on U.S. Route 20 with parking, restrooms, interpretive signage and hiking trails.
The grants are part of more than $12 million for 39 projects statewide funded by the Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax under the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant program. Grant recipients must at least match the grant with local funding.