Governor J.B. Pritzker announced today that the Skokie Park District’s Skatium Ice Arena will receive one of 17 Illinois PARC grants, totaling $24.9 million statewide.

PARC (Park and Recreation Facilities Construction) funding is made available through the Rebuild Illinois capital program and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The $2.5 million grant will offset a large percentage of the district’s $4.5 million capital project cost.

“Investments in Illinois’ local parks makes it easier for families and recreation enthusiasts to enjoy our state’s beauty and help their communities thrive,” said Pritzker. “These projects also create jobs, providing a boost to local economic development efforts in dozens of communities and spurring additional investment throughout the state.”

As part of the district’s five year master plan, planning for the renovation of the Skatium’s mechanical systems and ice rink began in 2018, but was deferred due to the high cost. With this grant, the project is now set for spring 2022.

With some decades-old mechanical equipment now wearing out, the Skatium project includes the demolition and replacement of the following:

• main rink concrete surface
• sub-floor heating and drainage system
• all piping and insulation in the rink floor
• all mechanical equipment in the refrigeration plant
• hydronic heating system
• evaporate condenser
• dehumidification system
• dasher boards
• The installation of LED light fixtures will also be included in the project.

“I would like to thank the staff of the Illinois Association of Park Districts,” said Skokie Park District Executive Director Michelle Tuft. “This grant was a direct result of IAPD's advocacy efforts in 2019 and we are tremendously grateful for their hard work on behalf of park district’s statewide.”