City Seeks to Purchase American Legion Park

The Columbia City Council is seeking to purchase the ball fields and other recreational areas within American Legion Memorial Park in order to maintain their public use.  The City hopes to finance half the purchase with an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

American Legion Post 581 has been providing athletic fields for community use since 1958.  With the aging of the group's membership, it has become increasingly difficult for the Legion to physically maintain the fields, so negotiations were begun to transfer the land to City ownership in order to maintain its recreational use.  The 17.1-acre parcel is used by more than 1300 young people annually through programmed sports programs.

Financed by a percentage of the state's Real Estate Transfer Tax, OSLAD grants can fund acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansions; up to 50% of approved project costs can be reimbursed.  Grant applications are submitted statewide and funds are awarded annually through a competitive process. Lands acquired with OSLAD funds are required to be operated and maintained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation.

With 117 acres of open space, Columbia ranks near the minimum national threshold for open space, but much of that land is currently undeveloped for recreational use; hence, the American Legion Fields are an outstanding local resource for the community--one that the City hopes to preserve for future generations.