Orland Park will use a $500,000 Build Illinois state grant this summer to overhaul six parks, replacing aging playground equipment and resurfacing various court surfaces.
The parks and the scheduled upgrades they are receiving include: Eagle Ridge Park will receive resurfacing of tennis courts and new fencing; Veterans Park: repairing of the tennis courts, inline hockey court and basketball courts as well as new fencing; Discovery Park: renovated basketball and tennis courts and new fencing; Doogan Park: resurfaced tennis and pickleball courts; Emerald Estates Park: repairing of the basketball court and Long Creek Park will get repairs to the basketball courts and restriping of the 4-square and hop-scotch areas.
Orland Park Recreation and Parks Director Ray Piattoni said the village schedules repairs and renovations to numerous parks every year.
The grant was facilitated by state Rep. Mary Gill (D-35th).
Mayor Jim Dodge thanked Gill and lobbyists the village hired to help secure the grant funding.
“Rep. Mary Gill has been great to work with and we appreciate the state legislature for bringing (grant) money to Orland Park,” he said.
The announcement was made at a special village board meeting on May 14. The regularly scheduled meeting on May 18 was cancelled.