Illinois’ new state budget earmarks up to $15 million that would be used to clean up the shuttered Tinley Park Mental Health Center, which is in line to be transferred to the Tinley Park-Park District.

The 280-acre site, which includes the Howe Developmental Center, is northwest of the intersection of Harlem Avenue and 183rd Street.

Obstacles such as demolishing several buildings on the site, many of which contain asbestos and mold, and cleaning up tainted soil have to be overcome before the property can be repurposed.

Legislation that would sell the property to the Park District for $1 is awaiting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature.

A line item in the budget, signed Wednesday by Pritzker, provides up to $15 million from the state’s General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which would in turn provide a grant to the Park District for the cleanup.

Previous estimates have put the expected cost of demolition and remediation at more than $12 million, but that is based on a study done for the village several years ago, and it’s estimated the total cost has risen.

The Park District said it would need to undertake a fresh assessment of the property to determine the condition and the cleanup costs.

Park Board President Marie Ryan said the promised state funding would “save Tinley Park taxpayers from footing the bill” for preparing the site for redevelopment.

“We hope Gov. Pritzker joins the many residents, community groups, and elected officials who support our broader vision for the property and signs into law the land transfer that will officially turn the land over to the Park District for only $1,” Ryan said. “With the governor’s support of this law, we can save residents millions of dollars in anticipated costs to obtain the property as well as the environmental cleanup, and we can finally move forward to transform the property for Tinley Park and the entire Southland region.”

The Park District’s first phase would encompass 90 acres and include and accessible playground and sports facilities, multipurpose athletic fields, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with a track, a splash pad, concession stands and spectator stands as well as a pond and picnic areas.

Park officials said they believe the athletic fields could be used for sports tournaments and draw visitors from throughout the Chicago area and Midwest, who would stay at hotels and patronize Tinley Park restaurants, helping the village’s economy.

It’s not the first time the state has promised millions for cleaning up the property.

As part of the fiscal year 2022 budget, the state was supposed to allocate up to $15 million from the Rebuild Illinois capital program, but that funding never materialized.

Earlier this year, state Rep. Tim Ozinga, R-Mokena, introduced a bill in the House to restore the Rebuild Illinois money, noting it was part of the 2022 budget but “removed without warning or notice.” That bill was referred to the rules committee.

Tinley Park has also been in negotiations with the state the last few years in an effort to buy the property for redevelopment, and has pushed state officials to address environmental problems at the site.

In late 2019, Tinley Park officials wrote to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency saying conditions on the property present “an imminent and substantial endangerment” to the environment and public health.

The village asked the agency to step in and rid the site of contaminants and secure the property with a fence.

mnolan@tribpub.com