Villa Park is set to benefit from $900,000 in state grant funding for two community recreation projects: improvements to the Lions Park Ball Field and expanded parking at the Villa Park Recreation Center.

The Village of Villa Park announced that State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton and State Representative Diane Blair-Sherlock helped secure a $500,000 grant for the Lions Park Ball Field.

The funding is intended to improve the playing area for local athletes and families who use the park, adding to the community's recreational opportunities.

For Villa Park families involved in youth sports, ball fields are more than places to practice and compete; they are gathering spots where neighbors cheer from the sidelines and spend time together.

A second grant of $400,000, secured by Senator Glowiak Hilton, will support an expansion of parking at the Villa Park Recreation Center.

The additional parking is expected to make visits more convenient for residents and guests attending recreation programs and community activities.

Together, the two awards total $900,000 in funding directed toward community facilities.

The village thanked both legislators for their work securing the grants and their continued support of Villa Park.

Both projects focus on everyday amenities that serve the community, from sports and outdoor play to getting families in and out of recreation facilities more easily.

Details about construction schedules, the exact scope of the ball field work, and the number of additional parking spaces have not been provided in the announcement.

Residents can watch for further village updates as plans for the projects move ahead.