Lake County Gazette

State Senator Dan McConchie expressed satisfaction with the Mundelein Park & Recreation District's use of a $600,000 matching grant. "I am pleased to hear that the Mundelein Park & Recreation District will be using part of the $600,000 matching grant they received," he said in a Facebook post on January 2.

"I am pleased to hear that the Mundelein Park & Recreation District will be using part of the $600,000 matching grant they received from the Illinois Department of Natural Resource's Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program to incorporate wheelchair football into the planned expansion of the Dolan Recreation Center," said Dan Mcconchie, according to Facebook. "Thank you to Executive Director Ron Salski and everyone involved in this project for ensuring people of every ability are able to enjoy outdoor spaces in our community."

In his post, McConchie shared an article from the Chicago Tribune regarding the grant awarded to the Mundelein Park and Recreation District’s Keith Mione Community Park and other facilities. According to the article, since 2021, the city's park district has been considering changes to the 107.58-acre Keith Mione Community Park. These changes include connecting two recreational centers, replacing playground equipment at Donal Recreation Center, expanding parking, and relocating the ice skating rink to a flatter surface. The district also plans to include wheelchair football in its expansion of the Dolan Recreation Center, along with a creative play area near a new chalk area and a 12-foot by 20-foot shelter at Keith Mione Community Park.

Screenshot of State Senator Dan mcConchie's Jan. 2 Facebook post | State Senator Dan McConchie's Facebook page

Governor JB Pritzker's office announced on December 16 that there are 100 local park projects benefiting from these grants. Twenty-nine of these grants are allocated to economically underserved communities to help develop recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. "Since I became Governor, it's been my mission to build stronger, healthier communities across Illinois. Through the OSLAD program, we're bringing that vision to life by awarding over $55.2 million to local park projects, expanding green spaces and creating new recreational opportunities for all," said Pritzker in a news release on December 16.

The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986 as a cost-sharing initiative between state and local governments. It provides up to 50 percent of funds for project costs or up to 90 percent for underserved communities. Grants can reach as high as $1,725,000 for property acquisition while renovation and development projects are capped at $600,000.

McConchie has served as State Senator for Illinois' 26th District since 2016. According to his official senate biography, he is an energy consultant with Verde Solutions and has previously served in the Army National Guard. He has worked for two decades in public affairs for national advocacy groups and spent two years teaching graduate-level bioethics and public policy courses as an adjunct professor at Trinity International University. McConchie resides in Hawthorn Woods with his wife.