TINLEY PARK- Thanks to the efforts of State Senator Michael E. Hastings, the Tinley Park-Park District began its demolition of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center and Howe Development Center. After sitting vacant for over a decade, the park district will transform the site into a brand new recreation center for its residents.

“Abandoned facilities like the one here are not only an eyesore of unusable space, but also open the door for potential health risks for our community,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “The speed and efficiency at which this project has moved means we are doing right by our residents.”

In February 2024, Hastings led a law to allow the park district to purchase the 280-acre plot for $1. A $15 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity was also secured by Hastings to help fund the restoration. The plan for the property includes athletic fields, track and field facilities, a domed sports complex and open recreational space. With the environmental cleanup complete, the park district moves toward demolishing the site that has been abandoned since 2012.

To learn more about this project, visit the park district’s website.