BYRON PARK DISTRICT AWARDED OSLAD GRANT
Wed January 22, 2020
BYRON PARK DISTRICT AWARDED OSLAD GRANT
BYRON, IL – On Friday, January 17th, Governor JB Pritzker announced $29.7 million in grant funds for 85 local projects. The Byron Park District was selected as a recipient and will receive a $400,000 grant towards the Donald B. Johnson Riverfront Park Development Project. Executive Director Paul Zepezauer announced the grant award at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Byron Park District Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, January 21st.
“The district has been waiting for the project to begin to take shape and we are excited to move into the next phase of development,” Said Board President Rachel Oracki. “It is an honor to be selected and this is an exciting time for the district and community.”
The Donald B. Johnson Riverfront Park was purchased from the Johnson family in 2019. The 10-acre property is located on the riverfront on the southwest side of Byron, on River Drive. Plans for the Park include a shelter, a playground, both asphalt and natural surface trails, a river overlook, fishing area, and preservation of green space. The grant is funded by the state’s Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program and administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Construction at the park is tentatively set to begin in the spring of 2021 and to be completed by the fall of 2021.
For more information, please contact Executive Director, Paul Zepezauer at 815-234-6277 or pzepezauer@byronparks.org