SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced Monday that more than $55.2 million in grant funding has been awarded to 100 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities.

For the third year in a row, the governor ensured funding was set aside for economically distressed communities, resulting in 29 underserved locations receiving $17.3 million in grants from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, program.

Locally, New Haven in Gallatin County will get $482,400. Bluford in Jefferson County will receive $600,000. Centralia in Marion County will get $43,000. And Golconda in Pope County will receive $600,000. New Haven, Bluford and Golconda are all economically distressed communities.

Established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. It’s become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment, OSLAD has awarded $640 million for park projects throughout Illinois including the awards announced Monday.