The Tinley Park-Park District expects to complete site cleanup of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center by the end of the year. The site is located at Harlem Avenue and 183rd Street. However, development will wait for the completion of the Illinois Site Remediation Program, which began in September 2025. Soil sampling is set to start this fall. According to Renee Cipriano, overseeing the cleanup, the remediation process may take at least a year. Cipriano is a former Illinois Environmental Protection Agency director.
Cleanup has involved removing asbestos and other hazardous materials and demolishing existing buildings. Remediation focuses on eliminating remaining contaminants to allow safe recreational use, which requires stringent IEPA approval. The Park District is committed to using the property for recreation as promised to the state and residents. At present, specific plans and funding for development remain undecided. According to Park District board President Lisa O’Donovan, community feedback will shape recreational use. “Our main focus is ensuring safe cleanup for the community,” O’Donovan stated.
Local officials in Tinley Park have expressed concerns about cleanup efforts, funding, and planning. The village had considered acquiring the property from the state for commercial use before the Park District secured it in 2023. Tinley Park’s village manager, Pat Carr, noted disappointment from village officials who felt private investment could have assisted redevelopment.
In 2025, the Park District unveiled a vision for 90 acres of the property, featuring baseball fields, a domed soccer field, multipurpose athletic fields, a stadium, an accessible playground, and a pond. This development sits on the west end along 80th Avenue and would extend Freedom Park. O’Donovan highlighted potential community benefits and received suggestions from residents and developers, such as for pickleball courts and open space, although private development offers are deferred until after the cleanup.
Demolition of the former mental health facility continued well into July 2026, with challenges like deeper concrete footings or stormwater management potentially affecting completion. As of June, 13 of 53 buildings remained, with plans to demolish them by year-end. The property once slated for a proposed casino now faces restrictions under 2023 state law that bans gambling facilities and prohibits its sale. Violations mean reverting ownership back to the state.
The district considers funding options for development, including partnerships, state grants, and internal budget processes. Two major state grants supported the $1 acquisition cost cover cleanup efforts: $15 million in 2023 and $18 million in mid-2025.
State Rep. Bob Rita praised the cleanup progress. By May, crucial tasks such as asbestos removal were completed, and structures like lime pits and reservoirs were cleared. Meanwhile, the remediation program managed by the IEPA oversees soil and groundwater contamination work. The district plans to bid this work publicly.
Community engagement will begin post-cleanup, involving resident and stakeholder feedback on development plans. O’Donovan highlights the involvement of groups like the Tinley Park Bobcats and Bulldogs, local officials, and committees like Remediate 280 in final decisions.