Park District Gets Grant for Environmental Learning Center

The Park District of Oak Park has been awarded a $400,000 matching grant to develop an Environmental Learning Center and other improvements at Austin Gardens. 

It's part of the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant program, which provides matching dollars for outdoor recreation space projects throughout Illinois. 

Austin Gardens is a 3.6-acre urban forest located adjacent to bustling commercial and historic districts within Oak Park. With these funds the Park District of Oak Park will construct a 2,100-square-foot  multi-use “Environmental Learning Center” which will be host to children’s nature day camps, environmental education programs for adults and children and other community events.

The facility will feature many energy and environmental conserving elements including ample use of natural light, a high efficiency HVAC system and a green roof which will run off to a rain garden feature. The project also includes development of a “discovery garden” with birding scopes, nature imprints and native plantings and a social gathering area with game tables for group picnics.

The park’s path system will be improved, interpretive signage will be installed and habitat enhancements will be made to the existing wildflower area in the north end of the park.

Renovations will be completed in 2015. 

The Park District was eligible for this grant program due to the successful passing of the “Renew Our Parks” referendum by Oak Park voters in April 2005. The local matching funds of $400,000 will be funded out of the Park District of Oak Park’s Capital Improvement Budget.

A site plan for Austin Gardens was completed in 2005 which is a requirement for an OSLAD grant application. Since the 2005, the Park District has secured nearly $2.4 million in OSLAD grant funds for park improvements at Field, Longfellow, Taylor, Mills and Lindberg Parks and Austin Gardens.

A Parks and Recreation Construction Grant for $1.6 million was awarded to the Park District in December 2011 for the entire renovation of Scoville Park, which will be officially re-opened at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 1.

“This grant award allows the Park District to develop this  unique Environmental Learning facility, which will provide opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature and learn about how we can better care for our environment," Park District President Jessica Bullock said. "In addition, this project will help to stimulate the local economy, provide jobs and, most importantly, enhance the quality of life in our community.” 

What else would you like developed in Oak Park? Tell us in the comments or write a blog post here.