Grant to help fund Phase I Barber Park Renovation

BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com

Mahomet Parks and Recreation has received a $400,000 Open Space and Land Acquisition Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for Phase I of the Barber Park Master plan.

The grant matches dollar-for-dollar up to one-half of a project’s funds.

Mahomet was one of 85 local projects statewide to receive the OSLAD funding to acquire open space and develop and improve recreational facilities throughout Illinois.

Governor JB Pritzker said, “Investments in local park projects are good for families and recreation enthusiasts, helping them enjoy outdoor activities and making Illinois communities better places to live and work. Parks projects also boost local economic development efforts and spur additional investment throughout the state.”

Renovations of Barber Park were introduced to the Village of Mahomet Board of Trustees in 2018 when MSA Professional Services, Inc. presented a $2.5 to $3.5 million dollar plan. While those figures were preliminary, the plan included raised and lighted fields, expanded wetland, trails, kayak access and play areas at Barber Park.

Mahomet Parks and Recreation Director Dan Waldinger said that the original plan put soccer fields in Phase I so that programming would have enough space for practice and games.

But based on community feedback, Waldinger’s team placed a nature theme playground, a sprayground, additional accessible paved pathways and improved amphitheater components at the front of the to-do-list.

He believes that the Mahomet Parks and Recreation Department will run fall soccer in 2021 with little impact on programming.

Waldinger said that 2020 will be spent on hammering out the details of Barber Park’s renovation. Although the Village has a good idea on what they’d like to do, a bid-package will need to be prepared.

He expects that construction on Barber Park will run from the spring to fall of 2021, then open to the public in 2022.

Waldinger said that while the Village has earmarked capital improvement funds for Barber Park over the next two years, fundraising efforts will help offset the cost.

“This is a pretty awesome project,” Waldinger said. “I think people will want to support it.”

Waldinger said that because of changes in the OSLAD grant distribution process, the Village will receive $200,000 up front.

“That’s nice because you don’t have to go out and save or fundraise those dollars,” Waldinger said.

Once the Village signs the paperwork with the State, it will have two years to complete the project.