SPRINGFIELD — Nearly $60 million in state grant funding is coming to 118 community parks throughout Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday. 

Money comes from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program. The 36-year-old program, commonly called OSLAD, aims to support efforts to beautify communities and develop recreational opportunities. It is funded by a percentage of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax.

“An investment in the outdoors is an investment in the health and well-being of the people of Illinois,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie, among the attendees at a news conference in Springfield’s Gietl Park. “We know that 83% of Illinoisans consider access to outdoor recreational opportunities important for them and their families. We also know that getting outside leads to better overall health.”

OSLAD provides funding assistance to local government agencies for their park districts and other outdoor activities. Most recipient governments split the cost with the state, but for 22 communities identified as “economically distressed,” 100% of the cost will be covered, officials said. The calculation factors in an area’s poverty level and property values. 

This year, the program has increased investments in distressed communities, awarding them 25.5% of the funding — up from 4.7% in the previous fiscal year, officials said. 

Cook County received the most funding, exceeding $12 million, with one community — the Chicago Heights Park District — qualifying as distressed. In Central Illinois, awards included $300,000 for the Macon County Conservation District, $600,000 for the city of Eureka, $600,000 for the village of Montrose in Effingham County, $600,000 for the Springfield Park District, and several projects in Champaign and Peoria counties. 

The OSLAD program has awarded more than $530 million for park projects throughout Illinois since it was established in 1986, officials said. 

Undergrad and graduate students at Northern Illinois University Institute for the Study of Environment, Sustainability and Energy had the opportunity to help assist as grant reviewers for this year’s recipients.

A full list of grant recipients appears below, with distressed communities noted by asterisks. 

• City of Cairo – $599,500*

• Kingsbury Park District – $600,000*

• Village of Neponset – $596,821*
• Village of Tiskilwa – $600,000*

• Village of Hardin – $600,000

• City of Mount Carroll – $371,000

• Champaign County Forest Preserve District – $400,000
• Urbana Park District – $550,000

• Flora – $299,557
• Louisville – $581,881

• Arlington Heights Park District – $600,000
• Chicago Heights Park District – $600,000*
• City of Calumet City – $600,000
• City of Chicago – $407,269
• Forest Preserve District of Cook County – $428,750
• Mount Prospect Park District – $600,000
• Norridge Park District – $600,000
• Palatine Park District – $499,900
• Park District of Forest Park – $424,200
• Streamwood Park District – $467,081
• Worth Park District – $325,000
• Village of Brookfield – $600,000
• Hickory Hills Park District – $241,700
• Skokie Park District – $357,000
• Northbrook Park District – $600,000
• Westchester Park District – $600,000
• Niles Park District – $600,000
• City of Palos Heights – $600,000
• Morton Grove Park District – $398,000
• Oak Lawn Park District – $600,000
• Rolling Meadows Park District – $600,000
• Lemont Park District – $600,000
• McCook Park District – $231,628
• Park Ridge Park District – $600,000

• DeKalb Park District – $507,000
• Genoa Park District – $102,800

• Elmhurst Park District – $340,300
• Woodridge Park District – $600,000
• Wood Dale Park District – $600,000
• Carol Stream Park District – $400,000
• Bloomingdale Park District – $300,000
• Addison Park District – $600,000
• Lombard Park District – $600,000
• Downers Grove Park District – $425,000
• Itasca Park District – $600,000
• Winfield Park District – $600,000
• Hanover Park Park District – $600,000
• Fox Valley Park District – $600,000
• Darien Park District – $600,000
• St. Charles Park District – $600,000

• Village of Montrose – $600,000*

• City of White Hall – $242,500

• City of Morris – $600,000

• Village of Plymouth – $600,000*

• City of Kewanee – $600,000*

• Willow Hill – $372,195.20

• City of Mount Vernon – $429,189*

• City of Jerseyville – $600,000

• Batavia Park District – $600,000
• Forest Preserve District of Kane County – $600,000
• Hampshire Township Park District – $600,000
• Village of South Elgin – $600,000
• Geneva Park District – $600,000

• City of Kankakee – $600,000*
• Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve District – $207,750

• Kendall County Forest Preserve District – $600

• City of Galesburg – $224,825

• Lake County Forest Preserve District – $600,000
• Mundelein Park and Recreation District – $400,000
• Park District of Highland Park – $600,000
• Wauconda Park District – $473,500
• Zion – $600,000
• Township of Antioch – $599,822.50
• Village of Libertyville – $469,000
• Deerfield Park District – $600,000
• Vernon Hills Park District – $566,465
• Village of Round Lake Beach – $580,915
• Buffalo Grove Park District – $600,000
• Grant Township Highway – $600,000

• City of Marseilles – $600,000*
• City of Ottawa – $506,000

• Macon County Conservation District – $300,000

• City of Benld – $600,000*
• Village of Palmyra – $600,000

• Madison County Mass Transit District – $388,000

• Havana Park District – $544,121*

• Village of Industry – $600,000*

• McHenry County Conservation District – $200,000
• City of Woodstock – $600,000
• Crystal Lake Park District – $600,000
• Village of Richmond – $137,390
• Village of Algonquin – $600,000

• City of Petersburg – $173,355

• City of Columbia – $600,000

• Village of Davis Junction – $600,000

• Pleasure Driveway Park District of Peoria – $255,000*
• Pleasure Driveway Park District of Peoria – $600,000*
• Chillicothe Park District – $600,000

• City of Pinckneyville – $222,600*

• Village of Milton – $599,000*

• Village of Olmsted – $600,000*

• City of Rock Island – $347,500*

• Springfield Park District – $600,000*

• Village of Bluffs – $600,000*

• City of O’Fallon – $600,000

• Village of Monee – $600,000
• Plainfield Township Park District – $377,500
• Village of Plainfield – $284,500
• Village of University Park – $200,000
• New Lenox Community Park District – $600,000
• Village of Shorewood – $600,000
• Channahon Park District – $300,000
• Oswegoland Park District – $600,000

• Village of New Milford – $600,000*
• Village of Machesney Park – $506,150

• City of Eureka – $600,000