YORKVILLE – In an effort to allow all Kendall County residents to enjoy the natural resources the area has to offer, State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) has secured more than $800,000 for the Kendall County Forest Preserve District through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) grant program, which will be used to renovate and update the Pickerill Estate House. 

“I’m elated to hear that Kendall County has been selected to receive a PARC grant to improve accessibility and provide more recreational opportunities for our community at the Kendall County Forest Preserve,” said Senator Villa. “Illinois continues to show its commitment to investing in public spaces to help maintain the health and wellness of families across our state.”

The Kendall County Forest Preserve District will use the PARC grant funding to renovate and update the Pickerill Estate House, located in the Pickerill-Pigott Forest Preserve, by making the building ADA accessible and constructing an adjoining open-air pavilion.

The PARC grant program provides up to 90% of project costs to help build, renovate and improve recreational buildings used by the public or purchase land to be used for public access and recreational purposes, with local governments matching the value of the grants awarded. The grant to the Kendall County Forest Preserve District was one of 17 grants awarded across the state.

A full list of grantees is available on IDNR’s website.