The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will now be accepting applications for the next round of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants through Sept. 13, 2024.

OSLAD is a matching program that provides an advance payment (for development projects only) of 50% of the grant award amount shortly after the grant agreement is executed. The local agency must demonstrate and possess the ability to finance the remaining cost of an approved project prior to receipt of remaining grant funds. The program offers state-financed funding assistance to local governmental agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas.

A total of $54 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. In addition, IDNR will once again will provide funding to cover 100% of eligible projects located in economically distressed communities. In the most recent round of OSLAD awards announced in January, 32 underserved locations received grants for local park projects. Go online for a list of communities that are considered economically distressed.

The application period opens July 1, and applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sept. 13, 2024. Prior to applying for a grant, entities must be registered and current in the state's Grant Accountability and Transparency Act grantee portal. All applications will be accepted online in the Amplifund portal.