Avon Township has received $20,000 of placemaking funds through the National Association of REALTORS®’ Outreach Grant program. Those grants are awarded to local Realtor organizations, in this case the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®, with the intent of creating new, accessible public spaces.

At Avon Township, the project planned comprises an outdoor community space, which will include a classroom, garden, a Little Free Library and more.

Avon Township Supervisor Michele Bauman first proposed the idea with the goal of establishing an area for all community members. Bauman, who is a Mainstreet member, worked directly with the organization to refine her vision for the space and strengthen the grant application.

“Now that we have the grant, I’m excited to bring the community together to shape what the final product will look like,” Bauman said in a press release. “Already, we’ve held a community action meeting where people were able to share what they’d like to see here in Avon Township.”

With the funds secured, Bauman’s new mission is to bring together contributions from different community members. She is already speaking with several Boy Scouts about how their own initiatives could potentially add to the outdoor classroom.

“As the local Realtor association, we’re proud of the many amenities the Chicagoland area offers residents,” Mainstreet Board of Directors President John LeTourneau added in a statement. “We love to see new projects like this continue to build the quality of life in our communities.”