Fehr Graham secures $2.8 million grant for Decatur Park District
Fehr Graham, a leading engineering and environmental firm, secured $2.8 million in grant funding for the Decatur Park District. The funding is part of more than $28 million allocated by Gov. JB Pritzker to Illinois local governments for enhancing public recreational facilities.
The funding comes from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act, or PARC, grant program, a component of Pritzker's bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital Improvement Program. It is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The Decatur Park District plans to use the $2.8 million to renovate the former Scoville Golf Course Clubhouse into a recreational senior center featuring activities to serve many interests, expectations and needs of the community's mature population. The new space will consolidate community recreational services and will offer daily exercise programs and activities like art, lectures, music, cards, games and some meal service.
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It's exciting to see Decatur get support from the state, giving residents the recreational opportunities they deserve. Decatur is making tremendous progress on providing recreation for the community, especially for our seniors. These revitalization efforts will have lasting effects on the community." |
Doris Turner, State Senator
Fehr Graham is instrumental in securing financial support for its clients by identifying and applying for loans and grants to fund projects. Our team helped the Decatur Park District secure $2 million in December 2023 to improve the Scovill Park West Trails. In April 2023, Fehr Graham helped the Park District secure $949,390 to replace the bike trail bridge over Stevens Creek in Fairview Park.
The PARC grant program covers up to 90% of project costs for the construction, renovation and enhancement of public recreational buildings or for land acquisition for public recreational use with local governments matching the grant value.
"I am pleased to see this renovation come to fruition to give our seniors a new community center where they can stay active, socialize and learn new hobbies," State Rep. Sue Scherer of Decatur said. "Instead of struggling to make it to different locations, all of the services will be in one central location, which is what our seniors deserve."
The Decatur Park District is a longstanding client of Fehr Graham that has benefited from working with the firm's funding specialists. Fehr Graham funding experts work closely with municipalities and organizations to prepare and submit applications to ensure funding for diverse initiatives.
See all grant recipients, and read the full news release here.