In January of 2015, the Elmhurst Park District received news that it had been awarded a $400,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to be used for improvements within Butterfield Park. However, all grant funding was frozen by the State of Illinois prior to the District receiving any of the funding. Now, with the release of these funds, the District has received $200,000 and will receive an additional $200,000 in reimbursement in the coming months.
The $400,000 grant required the District to provide matching funds, and will assist with the completion of the more than $1.6 million Butterfield Park redevelopment project. The OSLAD funding will go toward paying for the refurbished tennis courts, lighting systems, ball field improvements, correcting drainage issues, adding a stormwater detention basin and the repair and development of walking paths throughout the park.
Work on the park is nearly complete, and the District will hold a grand reopening ceremony on Saturday, November 5 at 12 p.m. at which, the brand new universally-accessible Playground for Everyone will also be unveiled, that was separately funded through District resources and community donations.
Butterfield Park is located at 385 E. Van Buren, in Elmhurst.
The Elmhurst Park District mission is to promote experiences for the lifetime enjoyment of people who live and play in Elmhurst by providing parks, recreation facilities and affordable programs to the community.
