Illinois eyes smarter park funding: handicap accessibility gets priority

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are proposing a change to the way state parks receive funding, one that could give taxpayers more bang for their buck, according to the bill’s sponsor.

Senate Bill 3016, sponsored by state Sen. Don Dewitte, R-St. Charles, would amend the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act to prioritize grants for park projects that go above and beyond federal accessibility standards, ensuring state funds serve the broadest range of children, including those with disabilities.

“Every project needs to stand on its own, but those who incorporate handicap accessibility into their park designs should be prioritized,” Dewitte said. “This isn’t going to cost taxpayers more. The OSLAD funding stays the same. It’s just a smarter way to award grants so more kids can use the parks.”

The bill, originally House Bill 1788 by Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Homer Glen, to prioritize parks with accessibility features, remains in committee after Senate President Don Harmon never called it. Dewitte said progress was slowed by competing legislation from Sen. Omar Aquino.

“His bill allowed OSLAD funds to acquire vacant urban properties, like in the city of Chicago, to create parks. Senator Harmon was concerned that this [La Ha’s] bill would interfere with that process and refused to call it for a committee hearing. So, I refiled my bill [SB3016] this spring.”

The OSLAD program, which was established in 1986, has awarded around $640 million in taxpayer funds for park land acquisition and development across Illinois since it began.

“This legislation is about making recreational opportunities available to more people,” Dewitte said. “Every project needs to stand on its own. The Department of Natural Resources always receives far more OSLAD applications than they have money for. But those who incorporate broader accessibility plans should be given priority. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

Under the bill, the Department of Natural Resources would adopt rules to apply this priority when reviewing grant applications, effective immediately.

Aquino’s SB2466 is now law, updating OSLAD to prioritize grants for parks in distressed communities and allowing the Department of Natural Resources to use emergency rules to speed funding based on local needs.

“If Sen. Aquino is looking to acquire a piece of private property for a dog park, there’s nothing preventing him from using OSLAD grant funding for that,” Dewitte said. “But if my bill gives precedence to parks incorporating handicap-accessible components, I don’t really see where the competition comes in. I would hope any active recreational park, even ones Senator Aquino plans in Chicago, would include handicap-accessible features so a broader range of people can benefit from state funding for OSLAD grants, property acquisition, and park development.”

Critics say SB2466’s emergency rule powers could limit public input and reduce transparency in how taxpayer funds are allocated.