April 25, 2025
Local News | The Times
Local News

Ottawa awarded $300K for Thornton Park improvements

City will have to fund other half of project

By Brent Bader

Michelle Kelly, of Upland Design, displays Aug. 1 potential new park equipment for Ottawa's Thornton Park during a meeting at Ottawa City Hall. The equipment and suggested addition of a splash pad was based on feedback provided during a meeting at the park this summer. (Brent Bader)

The city of Ottawa’s Thornton Park renovation picked up steam Wednesday with the announcement the city received state funds to help support it.

Governor JB Pritzker announced $29.7 million in Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants will be handed out to communities to acquire open spaces and improve recreational facilities, with $305,100 going towards Ottawa’s Thornton Park. The funds are meant to cover one-half of a project’s full cost, with Ottawa kicking in the additional $300,000.

The city applied for the grants in 2019 to help support its redevelopment plan for the park that is expected to include a splash pad north of the park’s shelter and is also tabbed for remodeling the tennis and pickleball courts.

The plan was created after the collected surveys during a public open house at Thornton Park where the public was encouraged to submit suggestions.

The city was required to list five projects for the grant but submitted 10, which also included adding a playground, walking path, renovating the bricks and paving the parking lot. Not all of the projects will be tackled with the money, but it acted as a rough guideline of what the city could do with the money.

Commissioner James Less expressed concern at a July City Council meeting if the city would have enough funds to back their half of the grant, noting the city was unable to do so in the past.

Commissioner Wayne Eichelkraut said at that time that over the period of two years the finances could be set aside for some of the project but the city would still need to seek a corporate sponsor for the rest.

The city took ownership of Thornton Park when they purchased three-plus acres on the west side of Boyce Memorial Park in 2014 and, as part of the sale, received four-plus acres on the east side donated to the city including Thornton Park.

Also awarded was a $400,000 grant to the city of La Salle for a Rotary Park expansion project and $25,000 to the city of Wenona for a City Park playground replacement project.

Pritzker said in a press release investment in local park projects help families and recreation enthusiasts by giving them outdoor activities to enjoy and make Illinois communities better places to live and work in.

“Park projects also boost local economic development efforts and spur additional investment throughout the state,” he said in the statement.

The OSLAD program has invested $403.2 million in 1,729 local park projects since its inception in 1987. The program receives dedicated funding from a percentage of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax.