Columbia Wins Funding for American Legion Fields

The City of Columbia is one of 42 cities, villages and parks districts awarded funding for 2012 through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

City leaders have agreed to use the $240,000 award to purchase a 17-acre portion of  American Legion Memorial Park that includes ball fields and other recreational areas in order to maintain their public use.  With the aging of American Legion Post 581's membership, it has become increasingly difficult for the group to physically maintain the fields, used by more than 1300 young people annually through programmed sports activities.  In 2010, the City agreed to assume maintenance and scheduling duties for the property while it pursued the grant.

Financed by a percentage of the state's Real Estate Transfer Tax, OSLAD grants fund acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansions with 50% of approved project costs to be reimbursed; thus, the City will need to match OSLAD's award to purchase the property. 

With 117 acres of open space, Columbia ranks near the minimum national threshold for open space, but much of that land is currently undeveloped for recreational use; hence, the American Legion Fields are an outstanding local resource for the community--one that the City hopes to preserve for future generations.