Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will visit the Park District of Forest Park, Saturday, Aug. 23, to make an announcement about a state grant for park districts.

The Park District of Forest Park applied for a Parks and Recreation Facility Construction (PARC) grant from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources in March. The grant is earmarked for a recreational facility on the 2.5-acre "Roos parcel" at Harrison Street and Circle Avenue.

The park district hired Williams Architects of Itasca to help craft a proposal for an 8,000-square-foot gymnasium with a college-regulation-size basketball court, a walking/running track and several multipurpose rooms. A second-floor, 3,000-square-foot fitness center is also included in the plan.

"We are very hopeful," said Parks Director Larry Piekarz, noting that the park district asked for $2.5 million, and the entire project was pegged at around $5 million.

Piekarz said the parks have been working with state Sen. Karen Lightford and 7th District state Rep. Chris Welch to lobby for the Forest Park rec center grant.

"We've been fortunate, with help of our legislators, to move this project forward," Piekarz said. "Knock on wood, this is an exciting time for us."

Gov. Quinn will speak at the Park District Headquarters, 7601 Harrison St., Saturday, Aug. 23 at 9:30 a.m.

Contact: jean@forestparkreivew

Twitter: @FP_Review