State grant helps fuel $1 million planned upgrade at New Lenox’s Hibernia Park.

Big changes are coming to Hibernia Park in New Lenox, thanks to a $400,000 grant awarded to the Park District.

Section II of Hibernia Park has a budget of just over $1 million, funded by the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Progress grant and the New Lenox Local community Park District.

“We are thrilled to acquire this grant that will make it possible for us to broaden and update the present-day leisure amenities even though developing one thing new for people,” Park District govt director Greg Lewis explained. “The planned additions will appeal to our total local community producing Hibernia Park truly a desired destination web page for New Lenox.”

Upgrades coming to the 15-12 months-aged park consist of earning its splash pad larger sized and with slip-resistant padding, producing its boat dock compliant with the Individuals with Disabilities Act and incorporating exercise machines together the walking paths.

“It’s thrilling we are receiving a prospect to enhance,” stated Amy Maher, recreation supervisor. “We’re hoping to begin in the spring and it ought to be completed by spring of 2024. We’re hoping faster than that, but owing to source chain difficulties we are currently being conservative.”

One particular of the biggest additions will be an all-function setting up, Maher reported. The current all-intent building is utilised as a concession stand and for boat gear storage, but will be designated only for boating reasons. Concessions and washrooms will shift to the new setting up.

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Enhancements to the going for walks path will consist of workout gear for men and women to use. Additions also contain a putting eco-friendly and a bocce ball court.

“We’ve been waiting to hear again from this grant for a while,” Maher said. “We used in 2021, but due to COVID it’s been delayed. They generally have men and women come out and search at probable grant winners, but due to staffing troubles, we had to submit paperwork, get photos and do more produce-ups. So we are quite enthusiastic to see almost everything coming jointly now.”

Hibernia Park is situated in the Hibernia subdivision at Eagle Circle and Blarney Road.

Maher explained the Park District is a single of 87 agencies in Illinois to obtain an open up place grant, which totaled $30.3 million.

“Funding for this round of OSLAD grants was the immediate final result of Illinois Association of Park District’s advocacy initiatives,” Maher stated. “Without the support of the IAPD membership, these OSLAD grants would not have been probable.”

Maher also reported design bidding has not started, mainly because they had been waiting around to see if they would receive the grant funding ahead of moving even more into the improvement process.

Hannah Kohut is a freelance reporter for the Day by day Southtown.