Summit Park District Awarded $2.5 Million Grant
The Summit Park District has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the construction of an indoor recreation facility. Summit Park District along with 21 other communities were recipients of an overall $50 million grant program entitled Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) Grant. The funding for these grants was made available through the State's "Illinois Jobs Now!" capital program. The grants provide assistance to agencies for park and recreation construction projects and represent only the first phase of the total $150 million the State has allocated to the PARC capital program."We are very pleased", said Tom Suhs, director of the Summit Park District, "these funds will help to provide a much-needed indoor recreational facility for the community of Summit."
The Park District's grant proposal was based upon the construction of an approximate 22,000 square foot facility housing a gymnasium and meeting rooms. "The District has some conceptual drawings," Suhs continued, "but one of the first tasks will be to determine exactly what components will comprise the facility, how it will operate and what costs will be associated with its eventual operation."
Suhs said it was too early in the process to know when construction will begin and when the project will be completed. "The Park District Board will be very thorough in the initial planning so when construction begins the end result will be a facility the community will utilize and point to with pride."
Happy Tails Dog Park Opens
Summit Park District Board President Judy Pollick and Park Commissioner Martha Sonka (10th and 13th persons from the left) are assisted in cutting the ribbon on the new dog park.
The Summit Park District recently opened a dog park area in Summit Park 5700 S. Archer Road. The dog park called "Happy Tails" is located in the southwest corner of the park in the area that held baseball field #3. The dog park is open during regular park hours; dawn to dusk. There is no charge for the use of the dog park and is available to anyone. Dog owners are required to clean up after their dogs using the waste bags that are provided at the entrance to the park. Complete rule rules regarding the usage of the dog park are posted. See a map of the dog park.
