Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is set to conduct a webinar on May 15 at 11 a.m. for those interested in the Open Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) matching grant program. This initiative provides financial support to local government agencies for acquiring and developing land for public parks and open spaces. The OSLAD program, administered by IDNR, supports projects ranging from small neighborhood parks to large community parks and nature areas.

The upcoming webinar aims to guide potential applicants through the OSLAD program's requirements and the necessary steps for completing a grant submission. Michelle Kelly, principal landscape architect from Upland Design, along with Patrick Davis, grants manager and chief accountability officer for IDNR, will lead the session.

"OSLAD is one of the most popular competitive grant programs offered by the State of Illinois. The goal of this webinar is to help prospective applicants learn how to prepare and submit successful grant applications on behalf of their communities," Davis stated.

Interested participants are encouraged to register online for the webinar. The OSLAD program offers full funding coverage for eligible projects in economically distressed communities and up to 50% funding for other areas. Grants can reach up to $1.7 million for land acquisition, while development and renovation projects have a maximum grant limit of $600,000.