Rep. Haas, Mayor Curtis, and Mayor Lyons Celebrate OSLAD Grants in District 79

KANKAKEE- Following the announcement of the 2026 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant recipients, State Representative Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) released the following statement:

"I am thrilled that District 79 was granted over $1.5 million in Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grants," said Rep. Haas. "This funding will go directly to critical projects that develop new outdoor spaces, which will encourage residents to spend more time outside and increase quality of life for everyone in our community. Thank you to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for providing this funding."

OSLAD was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986. This program assists communities across the state with funding for land acquisition, park development, and outdoor recreation projects.

In District 79, the City of Braidwood was awarded $600,000 for the Braidwood Town Center and the City of Kankakee was awarded $990,000 for the West Riverwalk.

"This OSLAD grant allows the City of Kankakee to continue the development and beautification of one of our most valuable assets, the Kankakee River. Investing in our riverfront and creating open public spaces provides residents and visitors with healthy outdoor parks and environments that bring people and the community together," said Kankakee Mayor Christopher Curtis. "This $990,000 investment grant in the West Riverwalk, coupled with our ongoing multi-phased design and construction projects for the East Riverwalk, Legion Park, and Riverfront Trail Phase III within the riverfront master plan, is improving quality of life for our residents and strengthening connections throughout our neighborhoods. The City of Kankakee is grateful to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Governor Pritzker, and State Representative Jackie Haas for investing in the Kankakee River and our community."

"It is a huge win for Braidwood," said Braidwood Mayor Todd Lyons. "This investment will have a lasting impact on our town center, which will provide space for our families and residents to enjoy for years to come. It is exciting."

For more information about Representative Haas, visit RepHaas.com.

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