Tinley Park Mental Health Property
We are now entering Phase 2 of our extensive cleanup project of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center site! Phase 2 is fueled by an additional $18 million in state grant funding that was awarded to the Park District to ensure that we clean up all 280 acres with what our laws require.
Under Phase 2, the remainder of the abatement and demolition work at the site will continue until completed, with nearly every building razed. Once the abatement and demolition work are complete, the additional funding allows us to enter the site into the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Site Remediation Program so we can complete the site cleanup with EPA’s oversight and letter of approval.
In Phase 1, a tremendous amount of work was completed on the property, including:
- 43 buildings abated and 27 buildings demolished
- Safe removal of old underground storage tanks
- Security perimeter fencing erected (and maintained through Phase 2)
- Stormwater removal and dewatering on the property (continues under Phase 2)
- Land clearing and brush cutting of the massive overgrowth on site (brush cutting will continue under Phase 2)
We’re proud to be finally cleaning up this eyesore for our community, and we have pledged to clean it up without asking our residents to foot the bill!
We’re grateful to the leadership of our Park Board of Commissioners for their work in getting this done!
Cleaning Up the Property
Cleaning up this eyesore is our #1 priority! Before officially owning the site, we began environmental clean-up work. In the fall, the environmental firm Tetra Tech conducted an updated environmental study to determine the extent of remediation work needed. Find their report below.
Homer Landscaping dramatically cut back vegetation and overgrowth on the property to provide access to roads and buildings on the site and help pave the way for the rest of the clean-up process. Crews have also removed three underground storage tanks that remain on the property.
Clean-up work will now focus on removing asbestos and other hazardous materials from inside the property’s buildings and demolishing all buildings on the site.Â
We will provide more updates to residents on all aspects of these next phases of cleanup and the timing for the work to begin. Importantly, this cleanup work will include many precautions to ensure the safety of the surrounding community during these efforts, including third-party air monitoring and safety protections for workers at the site.
Find the link to the bid for this work, a guide to frequently asked questions and other helpful resources on the clean-up efforts below.
Demolition Media
Before/After Gallery
FAQ & Additional Information
Redevelopment
We look forward to engaging with the community for ideas to redevelop the land once we begin the redevelopment process. We have previously released our ideas for the first 90 acres of the property, which would include multipurpose athletic fields, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with a track, a playground and splash pad, concession stands, spectator stands, lighting, ample parking, as well as a pond, picnic areas and open green space.
Remediate 280 Committee
The Remediate 280 Committee convenes monthly to discuss the state-funded cleanup of all 280 acres of the vacant property. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 pm at the Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center, 8125 171st Street, Tinley Park, IL 60477. Â
UPDATES
NEWSLETTERS
Updates
We want to be sure to update you at every step of this process. Sign up for our new Remediate 280 newsletter email updates.
We will post updates here and on our social media accounts: on Twitter, @TinleyParkFUN, and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/tinleyparkFUN.
Don’t hesitate to contact us directly should you have questions at info@tinleyparkdistrict.org or at 708-342-4200.