Several southern Illinois communities are receiving parks and recreation grants through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisitions and Development Grant program.
The Carbondale Park District will receive $600,000 to replace current playground structures at Crispus Attucks Park to allow for accessible and inclusive play for a wide variety of ages. This project will also allow for accessible playground surfacing.
Mound City is getting just under $600,000 to provide an ADA accessible walking path, an ADA accessible parking area, plus upgrades to playground equipment to include a new playground structure.
The Village of Elkville in Jackson County and the City of Hurst in Williamson County will use more than a half million dollars each to renovate the existing baseball and softball fields, improve accessible parking areas, install pickleball courts, extending walking/biking paths and install new lighting and landscaping.
Other communities receiving grants include Benton, Nason, Central City, Aviston, Carlyle, Centralia and New Baden.
