Rep. Rita: Land Sale Legislation Right Move for Tinley Park, Southland Region (Tinley Park, IL) — State Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, issued the following statement on his push for House Bill 3743, which has now passed the Illinois Legislature. The bill calls for the state of Illinois to sell the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center property to the Tinley Park Park District for a planned multi-million dollar park and sports complex:
“After more than 10 years of work on this issue, with four mayors and countless conversations, the people of Tinley Park have reason to celebrate. We are finally moving forward with putting the eyesore of the Tinley Park Mental Health Center property behind us and replacing it with a state-of-the-art sports and parks complex that will be an attraction for all of the Southland region.
“The local Park Board has developed a creative, excellent plan that is backed by all of the region’s state legislators to turn this site into the attraction that the community wants. The sporting and recreational events and green space will serve as a model for other projects and put Tinley Park on the map as a leader in family friendly, environmentally smart economic development.
We cannot wait another 10 years while the property decays and some local politicians complain. We must act now, and this legislation will make it possible. I look forward to the Governor signing this bill and working with the Park Board and the community members to make this project something to be proud of for generations to come.”
Rep. Rita: Land Sale Legislation Right Move for Tinley Park, Southland Region
Has anyone connected that the switch from selling to the park district instead of the village directly benefits Rita’s step daughter who is on the park district board? Interesting.
The Village of Tinley Park has been pursuing the purchase of the tract of land at 183rd & Harlem for several years to no avail. Now the TP Park District gets it for $1. What changed?!