Illinois Prioritizes Handicap Accessibility in Park Funding

New bill would give priority to park projects that exceed federal accessibility standards

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Illinois lawmakers are proposing a change to the way state parks receive funding, prioritizing grants for park projects that incorporate handicap accessibility features beyond federal requirements. The goal is to ensure state funds serve the broadest range of children, including those with disabilities. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Don Dewitte, would amend the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act to give precedence to parks with inclusive designs when awarding OSLAD grants.

Why it matters

This legislation aims to make recreational opportunities more accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring that state park funding benefits the widest possible community. It comes as Illinois updates its OSLAD program to prioritize parks in distressed areas and allow for faster funding based on local needs.

The details

Senate Bill 3016 would require the Department of Natural Resources to adopt rules that prioritize OSLAD grants for park projects incorporating handicap-accessible features beyond federal standards. This is an amendment to the original House Bill 1788, which was blocked in the Senate due to concerns it could interfere with a separate bill allowing OSLAD funds to be used for urban park acquisition. Sen. Dewitte has now refiled the accessibility-focused bill as SB3016.

  • The OSLAD program has awarded around $640 million in taxpayer funds for park land acquisition and development across Illinois since it began in 1986.
  • Senate Bill 2466, which prioritizes OSLAD grants for parks in distressed communities and allows for emergency funding rules, was recently signed into law.

The players

Sen. Don Dewitte

A Republican state senator from St. Charles who is sponsoring SB3016 to prioritize handicap accessibility in OSLAD park grants.

Rep. Nicole La Ha

A Republican state representative from Homer Glen who originally introduced the bill to prioritize parks with accessibility features, which later became SB3016.

Sen. Omar Aquino

A state senator who sponsored a separate bill, SB2466, that updates the OSLAD program to prioritize grants for parks in distressed communities and allow for faster funding.

Sen. Don Harmon

The Illinois Senate President who declined to call Rep. La Ha's original accessibility-focused bill for a committee hearing, citing concerns it could interfere with Sen. Aquino's urban park acquisition bill.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

The state agency that administers the OSLAD grant program and would be responsible for adopting new rules to prioritize handicap accessibility under SB3016.

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What they’re saying

“Every project needs to stand on its own, but those who incorporate handicap accessibility into their park designs should be prioritized. This isn't going to cost taxpayers more. The OSLAD funding stays the same. It's just a smarter way to award grants so more kids can use the parks.”

— Sen. Don Dewitte, State Senator (1023thecoyote.net)

“If Sen. Aquino is looking to acquire a piece of private property for a dog park, there's nothing preventing him from using OSLAD grant funding for that. But if my bill gives precedence to parks incorporating handicap-accessible components, I don't really see where the competition comes in.”

— Sen. Don Dewitte, State Senator (1023thecoyote.net)

What’s next

The Department of Natural Resources would need to adopt new rules to implement the accessibility-focused grant prioritization outlined in SB3016, which would take effect immediately if the bill becomes law.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to make Illinois state parks more inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring that taxpayer funding for recreational spaces benefits the broadest range of residents. It represents a shift towards prioritizing universal design principles in public infrastructure projects.