Rolling Meadows Park District to Receive $600,000 OSLAD Grant for Community Center Park Amenities

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Rolling Meadows Park District has been awarded a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to add new recreation opportunities to Community Center Park.

Additions planned to the park, located behind the Community Center at 3705 Pheasant Drive, include a Ninja-Warrior-style Challenge Course, Fitness Court, two dedicated pickleball courts, 9-hole miniature golf course and in-ground baggo and ladder ball. The new amenities will encourage outdoor play, making full use of the popular Community Center Park space and creating a multigenerational hub for families and friends to gather, connect and stay active.

“I am incredibly proud of our Park District for being awarded the OSLAD grant and what this will allow us to bring to our community,” said Rolling Meadows Park District Board President Emily Ford. “The amenities in this area will be a place where families and residents of all ages will have even more opportunities to stay active and enjoy time together.”

Established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that has become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois.

The District's last OSLAD grant initiative took place at Cardinal Drive Park, where a new inclusive playground was debuted in September 2022. The District received a $312,600 OSLAD matching grant for the project, which included a complete renovation of the park, originally constructed in 1961.

Rolling Meadows Park District Executive Director Kevin Romejko said both the Cardinal Drive Park renovations and the upcoming Community Center Park project demonstrate the District's commitment to offering new and innovative ways to enjoy the benefits of recreation. The park's beauty and location near the Community Center and next to one of the most popular walking paths in the District makes it an ideal site for people of all ages to engage in active fun, he said.

“From the Fitness Course and pickleball courts to the Challenge course and miniature golf, there will truly be something for everyone,” Romejko said. “We are honored to receive this funding and move forward with a project that embodies our vision of providing exceptional opportunities to play, learn and grow.”

Full details of the project are available here.