Building Parks and Strengthening Communities with Millions in OSLAD Grants
The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program has become one of the most powerful tools for building vibrant parks and public spaces. Wight has helped secure over $11.3 million through this program alone, leading to transformative improvements at numerous Chicagoland parks. These grants demonstrate how thoughtful planning and meaningful community engagement can turn ideas into funded, built, and celebrated spaces where people come together to play, compete, and connect.
Expanding Options Through Solar and Clean Energy Incentives
Many communities are also reducing project costs and long-term utility expenses through state and federal clean energy incentives, including:
- Illinois Shines (REC Program): Agencies that install solar through a qualified provider receive seven years of payments for producing clean energy—typically offsetting 30-40% of installation costs over the incentive period.
- ComEd Distributed Generation Rebate: A $250 per kilowatt installed cash rebate, generally covering around 10% of solar project costs once the system is operational.
- Federal Clean Electricity Investment Credit (CEIC): A redesigned federal incentive supporting geothermal and battery/storage systems, with a base credit of 6% that can increase to 50% or more when projects meet wage, domestic content, energy‑community, or low‑income-community criteria. This credit is available as a direct payment once systems are fully installed.
When Strategy Meets Democracy: Preparing Communities for Referenda
Some projects require more than grant funding—they need a community mandate. When ballot measures or referenda are involved, preparation is essential. A structured, informed pre‑referendum strategy helps agencies:
- Understand their voter base through demographic and behavioral analytics
- Engage residents early through task force meetings and transparent communication
- Tell the project’s story effectively with clear, accessible messaging
- Guide decisions with public opinion research to test support and reduce uncertainty
- Navigate the process confidently, from initial concept through final ballot language
Beyond Your Base (BYB), a public engagement and pre-referendum consulting group of Wight & Company, has supported over 100 public-sector clients across the country, helping communities pass referenda that fund parks, schools, fire districts, libraries, and other essential civic improvements. Learn more.
A Funding Partnership Built Around Community Success
A successful funding strategy does more than pursue grants or referenda—it builds a foundation for long-term feasibility, public trust, and community support. By proactively identifying competitive funding sources, preparing strong data-driven applications, engaging stakeholders through inclusive communication, and integrating referendum insights, reliable cost estimating, and capital improvement planning, communities can move projects forward with clarity and confidence. Together, these elements create a practical roadmap from early vision to construction.
Ultimately, every community deserves parks, facilities, and public spaces that reflect its aspirations. With the right strategy and partnerships in place, funding opportunities can align with long-term goals—turning ambitious ideas into projects that are well-supported, well-funded, and built to serve residents for generations to come.
