title
PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Department of Planning and Development
Grantee: Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”)
Grantor: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (“IDNR”)
Request: Authorization to accept grant and enter into a grant agreement
Purpose: Grant award for the design and construction of new administrative and garage building at Salt Creek Division Headquarters located in North Riverside, Illinois
Grant Amount: $4,400,000.00
Grant Period: Two (2) years from date of full execution
Fiscal Impact: Not to exceed $3,100,000.00 in direct match (FY 2022 $100,000.00; FY 2023 $1,000,000.00; FY 2024 $2,000,000.00)
Accounts: Professional Services 51009.520830, 51010.520830, 51027.520830, 51030.520830, 51031.520830, 51051.520830; Property Maintenance & Operations 51009.510105, 51010.510105, 51027.510105, 51030.510105, 51031.510105, 51051.510105; and future Construction & Development accounts
Concurrences:
The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final grant agreement is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 16
Summary: In 2020, a State of Illinois Appropriations Bill included $4.4 million in Build Illinois Bond funds to IDNR, for the purpose of Forest Preserves’ infrastructure improvements. In September 2021, IDNR notified the Preserves that this funding was awarded in the FY 2022 State of Illinois Budget and requested submission of the required documentation for the release of funds. Documentation for the Salt Creek Landscape Maintenance Headquarters project was submitted in March 2022. The Project includes design and construction of a new energy-efficient office/garage building at the Salt Creek Landscape Maintenance Division Headquarters. This Division provides maintenance support to an extensive range of public outdoor facilities, including forty-six (46) picnic groves, over twenty-three (23) miles of paved and unpaved trails and several public canoe and kayak launches.
The new 10,500 s.f. building would replace an existing 1930s office/training building and a 1960s garage totaling approximately 5,775 s.f. The new building will feature all-electric heating and cooling system creating minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Facility operations will also be improved with redesigned site access, parking, and fuel pump locations. The all-electric building will emit zero greenhouse gases, follow sustainability best practices, advance the Forest Preserves’ Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan and serve as a model for educating staff and visitors. Interpretive signage highlighting the building's sustainability features and the importance of the area's nature will be installed inside and outside of the building.
The Forest Preserves seeks authorization to accept the award and to enter into a related grant agreement. Total project costs are estimated at $7,500,000.00, of which the Forest Preserves will contribute up to $3,100,000.00 in direct match from other existing and future capital funds. end