Illinois eyes smarter park funding: handicap accessibility gets priority
[February 09, 2026]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are proposing a change to the
way state parks receive funding, one that could give taxpayers more bang
for their buck, according to the bill’s sponsor.
Senate Bill 3016, sponsored by state Sen. Don Dewitte, R-St. Charles,
would amend the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act to
prioritize grants for park projects that go above and beyond federal
accessibility standards, ensuring state funds serve the broadest range
of children, including those with disabilities.
“Every project needs to stand on its own, but those who incorporate
handicap accessibility into their park designs should be prioritized,”
Dewitte said. “This isn’t going to cost taxpayers more. The OSLAD
funding stays the same. It’s just a smarter way to award grants so more
kids can use the parks.”
The bill, originally House Bill 1788 by Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Homer Glen,
to prioritize parks with accessibility features, remains in committee
after Senate President Don Harmon never called it. Dewitte said progress
was slowed by competing legislation from Sen. Omar Aquino.
“His bill allowed OSLAD funds to acquire vacant urban properties, like
in the city of Chicago, to create parks. Senator Harmon was concerned
that this [La Ha’s] bill would interfere with that process and refused
to call it for a committee hearing. So, I refiled my bill [SB3016] this
spring.”
The OSLAD program, which was established in 1986, has awarded around
$640 million in taxpayer funds for park land acquisition and development
across Illinois since it began.
“This legislation is about making recreational opportunities available
to more people,” Dewitte said. “Every project needs to stand on its own.
The Department of Natural Resources always receives far more OSLAD
applications than they have money for. But those who incorporate broader
accessibility plans should be given priority. I don’t think that’s a bad
thing.”
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State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, points to a printout of an
Ameren Illinois electric bill at the State Capitol. Photo: Greg
Bishop / The Center Square
Under the bill, the Department of Natural Resources would adopt
rules to apply this priority when reviewing grant applications,
effective immediately.
Aquino’s SB2466 is now law, updating OSLAD to prioritize grants for
parks in distressed communities and allowing the Department of
Natural Resources to use emergency rules to speed funding based on
local needs.
“If Sen. Aquino is looking to acquire a piece of private property
for a dog park, there’s nothing preventing him from using OSLAD
grant funding for that,” Dewitte said. “But if my bill gives
precedence to parks incorporating handicap-accessible components, I
don’t really see where the competition comes in. I would hope any
active recreational park, even ones Senator Aquino plans in Chicago,
would include handicap-accessible features so a broader range of
people can benefit from state funding for OSLAD grants, property
acquisition, and park development.”
Critics say SB2466’s emergency rule powers could limit public input
and reduce transparency in how taxpayer funds are allocated.
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