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Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant

NEW:  2024 IDNR Grant Outlook and Successful Grant Submission Webinar (youtube.com)

What is the OSLAD Grant Program?

The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program is a state-financed grant program that provides funding assistance to local government agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and open space. 

Projects vary from small neighborhood parks or tot lots to large community and county parks and nature areas. The state program is financed by a percentage of the state's Real Estate Transfer Tax. 

Funding assistance up to 50% (90% for distressed communities - OSLAD program only) of approved project costs can be obtained. Grant awards up to $1,725,000.00 are available for acquisition projects, while development/renovation projects are limited to a $600,000 grant maximum.

Applicant Eligibility

OSLAD grants are available to units of local government that are authorized by Illinois law to expend public funds for the acquisition and development of land for public outdoor park, recreation, or conservation purposes.  School districts are not eligible.

There are now five grantee pre-award requirements statewide per Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) State Statute 30 ILCS 708/1. The five pre-award requirements all state grantees must complete are described in more detail.

Eligible Projects

Example of Eligible Projects include:

  1. Acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansion, water frontage, nature study, and natural resource preservation. 

  2. Development/Renovation of:

    • Picnic and playground facilities;
    • Outdoor nature interpretive facilities;
    • Sports courts and play fields;
    • Swimming pools, beaches and bathhouses;
    • Campgrounds and fishing piers;
    • winter sports facilities;
    • Park roads and paths, parking, utilities and restrooms; and
    • Architectural/engineering (A/E) services necessary for proper design and construction of approved project components.

Project Evaluation

Applications must be submitted to IDNR during the period indicated on the current Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on the GATA website. Only those local government agencies having statutory authority to acquire and develop land for public park purposes are eligible to apply for and receive assistance under the OSLAD grant program.

Applications are evaluated and prioritized for funding assistance based upon recreation priorities and criteria identified in the Department's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Lands acquired with OSLAD funds are required to be operated and maintained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation.

How to Apply

Step 1

All applicants must be pre-qualified through the State of Illinois Grantee Portal. Additional information on prequalification is available here.

Step 2

Please READ the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more details on this program, including scoring criteria and grant program rules and restrictions.

Step 3

Download the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program Manual.  (2025 manual coming July 1, 2024)

Step 4

OSLAD:  Submit your application through the Amplifund Grant Management System. (2025 link coming July 1, 2024)

No other form of submission will be allowed or eligible.

Note: Applications received after the application deadline, will not be considered. Submission of an incomplete application does not extend the application deadline.  Applications submitted without all required documentation will not be considered for funding.

CATALOG OF STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE to learn about future funding opportunities.

Current Year Materials

  • PDF File 2025 OSLAD Manual (coming July 1, 2024)

Prior Year Materials

Additional Material

 

Distressed Communities Calculation

An eligible local unit of government located within a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA):

  • EAV Calculation: Per capita EAV is less than 60% of the state average EAV.
  • Poverty Calculation:  More than 15% of population below the poverty level.
  • Fair-share Calculation:  Per capita OSALD funds received is less than state per capita OSLAD funds awarded.
  • Major University:  No major University.

 

An eligible local unit of government located NOT within a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA)

  • EAV Calculation:  Per capita EAV is less than 50% of the state average EAV.
  • Poverty Calculation:  More than 20% of population below the poverty level.
  • Fair-share Calculation:  Per capita OSALD funds received is less than state per capita OSLAD funds awarded.
  • Major University:  No major University.

 

A Physically Distressed Community is an eligible local unit of government that has encountered catastrophic events such as floods or tornados. 

The community must be:

  • In a county declared a "disaster area" by the Governor or President of the United States*,
  • The disaster must have directly affected the community applying for the grant. 

The physically distressed status will be allowed one time within a 3-year period. The Department reserves the final determination as to whether an applicant meets the definition of a physically distressed community. 

*The Department may require verification of disaster impacts and a public assistance declaration from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and/or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before allowing eligibility under this provision.  

 

All determinations are final and are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and IL Dept. of Revenue.