Elgin wins $600,000 grant for Channing Park improvements
Elgin has been awarded a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to help fund improvements to Channing Park.
The neighborhood park is located next to Channing Memorial Elementary School on Elgin’s east side. The grant will cover almost a quarter of the $2.5 million in upgrades being made, according to a news release.
Among them will be new a new shelter and playground equipment; an accessible game area and ADA-compliant pathways to access an existing soccer field, which will receive improved drainage; a refurbished a tennis court, including the addition of pickleball lines; conversion of a tennis court for futsal, a truncated version of soccer; and an additional access point to the park from Rugby Place.
“Improvements at Channing Park will strengthen the space and ensure it continues to be a safe, welcoming place for families to gather, play and stay active for years to come,’’ Jen Hermonson, Elgin Parks and Recreation director, said in the release.
Health department holding lead poisoning webinar
A free webinar, “What Families Need to Know About Lead Poisoning,” will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, by the Kane County Health Department.
The online session is designed to help families understand the risks of lead exposure and learn practical steps to protect children and expectant parents, according to a news release.
Webinar participants will learn how children are commonly exposed to lead; the health effects of lead poisoning; ways to reduce lead risk at home and in the community; when and how children should be tested; and resources available for prevention and support.
In 2025, there were 121 confirmed cases of lead poisoning in children in Kane County, the release said. Exposure to lead can cause lasting problems with a child’s growth, learning and behavior. During pregnancy, lead exposure can also pass to the baby and affect development before birth.
The webinar is free, but advance registration is required at us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/iqwcuGbKS7-Gmgc69uwmmA#/registration.
U-46’s Johnson named to ‘Superintendents to Watch’ list
School District U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson has been cited as a “Superintendent to Watch” by the National School Public Relations Association.
Each year, the association recognizes superintendents with fewer than five years’ experience in the job who demonstrate dynamic leadership and strong communication, according to a news release. Johnson was one of 30 superintendents nationwide to be selected for the honor.
This year’s superintendents will be formally recognized in July at the association’s seminar in New Orleans.
Johnson began her tenure at U-46 as a language arts educator and later became a high school principal and district administrator. She was named interim superintendent in February 2023 and assumed the job on a permanent basis in the 2023-24 school year.
Grants let ECC add EV training to fire science program
The Elgin Community College fire science program will include electric vehicle training using to grant money from the state’s RevUp Electric Vehicle Community College Initiative.
ECC was awarded an initial $90,000 RevUp EV grant followed by another $295,794 continuation grant, according to a news release. The funding supports the integration of EV technology into public safety training.
Instruction for firefighters will be held at the Center for Emergency Services campus in Burlington. It will focus on hazard identification, vehicle extrication and fire suppression tactics involving electric vehicles.
Firefighters will also learn how to safely operate around EV charging stations, which have been installed at the Burlington campus. The college has also purchased four electric vehicles for instructional use.