Ryan: $987,000 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Lake, Northwestern Cook Counties

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $987,000 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Lake and Northernwestern Cook counties, including $200,000 to the Village of Lake Barrington for improvements and the expansion of a major intersection near North Barrington Elementary School.

Lake Barrington will widen, resurface and improve the intersection of Grandview Drive and Route 59, a heavily-traveled intersection that is used by students, parents, teachers and staff at the school.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Sen. William E. Peterson, R-Long Grove.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $200,000 to Avon Township to renovate and improve a 30-year-old youth baseball complex that has eight fields and is used by more than 1,000 families.
  This project was initiated by Peterson and State Rep. Mark Beaubien, R-Barrington.

• $100,000 to the Village of Mundelein to help construct a new 42,000-square-foot police headquarters. The current 8,000-square-foot police station houses the department's 56 employees.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $100,000 to the Village of Wauconda to help construct a new highway equipment garage. The village will contribute $100,000.
  The village will contribute $100,000.

• $65,000 to the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire protection District to purchase a new ambulance to serve 30,000 people.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $50,000 to the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District to help purchase new radio equipment, serving 20,000 people.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $50,000 to the Vernon Hills Park District to help construct restroom facilities at Grosse Point Village Park. There are currently no restrooms at the park.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $50,000 to the Wauconda Park District to purchase new playground equipment that will replace 20-year-old wooden structures.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $50,000 to the Countryside Fire Protection District to purchase fire fighting equipment that will enable this unincorporated department to better pump water from alternative sources like lake or streams in areas where there are no hydrants or water systems.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $35,000 to the Countryside Association for the Handicapped to renovate its facility, which is used to provide 200 developmentally disabled adults with work training and life skills.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $25,000 to the Vernon Hills Park District to help finish a bike path at Grosse Point Village Park.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Sidney Mathias, R-Buffalo Grove.

• $25,000 to the Village of Buffalo Grove to help develop an electronic document imaging system to increase efficiency in the village office.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $22,000 to the Wauconda Fire Protection District to help install fire hydrants in areas where there are none.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $15,000 to Barrington Township to continue the installation of a flood control system on South Grove Street in an unincorporated area of the township that will prevent flooding in 16 homes. The project has already received $29,000 in other Illinois FIRST grants.
  This project was initiated by Mathias.