CHRIS FOX PHOTOS
On July 8, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced the awarding of Open Space Land Acquisition Development (OSLAD) grants to several communities throughout the state. The Village of Villa Park received one of those grants—a $400,000 grant to redevelop Lufkin Park. The park, located at 1000 S. Ardmore Ave., has been vacant for the last few years. The public pool at the park closed at the end of the 2017 season. The pool and pool building were demolished in 2019. The redevelopment plans for Lufkin Park include the installation of a walking trail, a playground, a ninja course, a floating fishing pier, a spray pad and a band shell performance area. The village’s plans for redevelopment also call for an expansion of the park’s pond.
