Hunter Prairie Park Redevelopment on Track, Four-Year Journey Detailed

Frankfort Square Park District Meeting | September 2025

Article Summary: The Frankfort Square Park District’s multi-year redevelopment of Hunter Prairie Park is progressing, with a detailed timeline presented at the recent board meeting. The project, which originated from a 2021 community survey, has advanced through grant applications, planning, and now construction, with completion of restoration work anticipated in late fall.

Hunter Prairie Park Redevelopment Key Points:

• The project was initiated based on a 2021 community-wide survey that identified paths and gardens as top household needs.

• The park district secured an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant in 2024 to help fund the redevelopment.

• Superintendent of Parks Ed Reidy outlined the project’s timeline, which included extensive planning in 2023 and the start of demolition and construction in 2025.

• An interpretive sign for the park is currently under development, and construction fencing is expected to be removed in late fall after restoration is complete.

The Frankfort Square Park District Board of Commissioners on Thursday, September 18, 2025, received a comprehensive update on the Hunter Prairie Park redevelopment project, a multi-year effort to transform the space with new amenities.

Superintendent of Parks Ed Reidy summarized the project’s journey, which began in 2021 when a community-wide survey identified paths and gardens as the top two needs for residents. This feedback led to the creation of the “Hunter Prairie Park Gardens” concept, which was added to the district’s Capital Project Wish List.

Following the survey, the district spent time in 2022 interviewing and hiring a landscape architect and beginning discussions for an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant application. The year 2023 was dedicated to intensive planning, which involved concept drawings, public meetings about the potential redevelopment, and submitting the formal OSLAD grant application.

A major milestone was reached in 2024 with the announcement that the district’s OSLAD grant application had been approved. This was followed by the execution of a grant agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), surveying and soil testing, and ordering amenities for the new park. The park district also began the process of securing a land use permit from Will County for a new Tuff Shed structure.

Construction and demolition work began in 2025 after the district received its permit from the Will County Land Use Department. According to Reidy’s report, this phase has involved onsite meetings, change orders, and payout request approvals.

During her report, Executive Director Audrey Marcquenski noted the project’s complexity and praised the staff’s efforts. “The project involved numerous individuals and components, and while it posed certain challenges, all involved have been successfully navigating the challenges, most notably, Ed Reidy, who has the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously,” she stated.

Marcquenski also presented the board with the latest proof for a new interpretive sign slated for installation at the park. Board members will review the design and provide feedback before it is printed.

Treasurer Frank Florentine inquired about the removal of construction fencing at the site. Reidy responded that the fencing would remain in place until all restoration work is finished, which he anticipates will be in late fall.