Natalia Chi
District, State Sen. Mike Hastings (D-Frankfort), State Rep. Bob Lita, D-D, said the Illinois House of Representatives has announced that the now-closed Tinley Park Mental Health Center in the Tinley Park Park District will be closed. announced that it had approved a bill to sell the center’s property for $1. – Blue Island.
The 280-acre site, located northwest of the intersection of Harlem Avenue and 183rd Street, is being targeted for redevelopment by the Park District and Village.
The bill, which was passed by the Senate earlier, would require the state central administration that manages the site to sell it to the park district. The measure is currently being reviewed by Governor JB Pritzker.
“We are extremely grateful to the members of the General Assembly for supporting the Mental Health Center’s vision of creating new recreational opportunities and green spaces that will benefit the entire Southland region,” said Park Board Member Marie Ryan. the chairman said in a news release.
Millions of dollars will have to be spent to clean up the land’s environmental problems before it can be redeveloped, and who will pay for it is still up in the air, but the park district has a lot of funding from the state. suggesting that they are asking for help.
“The Parks Board hopes that Governor Pritzker will sign this bill into law so that we can work with the state to initiate the necessary environmental cleanups on the property,” Ryan said. said.
The land was once thought to be a combined Harness racetrack and casino site, but Hastings said the law prohibits gambling developments on the premises.
A spokesman for Mr. Pritzker said on Friday that the bill would be considered as soon as the governor put it on his desk.
Plans for the park district include a stadium with a dome-shaped regulation size soccer field and a running track.
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The village is also in talks with the Central Management Service about acquiring this land, which will be a “powerful economic engine” to generate tax revenue and a mixed-use recreational area that will make Tinley Park “an excellent destination to live and work.” I was proposing a district. And play,” Mayor Michael Grotz said in a January post on the village’s website.
The village’s goal is to develop complementary assets such as an outdoor music theater and several hotels adjacent to state land.
Tinley Park mayor Pat Carr said Friday that village officials were “clearly disappointed, private investors are helping to fund remediation costs, and there is no way to make this land developable.” I believe is a good choice,” he said.
“I’m relieved that the state has taken some action after it’s all over,” he said. “We[the village and the park district]have a shared vision of, in a way, the grounds being cleaned up.”
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Carr said the village has asked state officials to remove asbestos, mold and other toxic substances from the property and wishes the park district the best of luck.
“We have been waiting eight years for funding from the state” to restore the site, he said.
Democratic Blue Island Rep. Bob Rita, who introduced the bill in the House, said in a statement on Friday that the passage was a step forward in addressing the land situation.
“We are finally moving forward with plans to decommission the obtrusive Tinley Park Mental Health Center site and replace it with a state-of-the-art sports and park complex that will be an attraction for the entire Southland region,” Rita said. . He said.
The first phase of the Park District spans 90 acres and includes accessible play and sports facilities, a multi-purpose playground, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with track, splash pads, concession stands, A spectator stand will be included. There is also a pond and picnic area.
The Park District believes that the use of this playground for sporting tournaments will attract visitors from the Chicago area and the Midwest to Tinley Park, where they can stay in hotels and use the village restaurants, thereby boosting the village’s economy. i think i can help.
