A Metro East town was awarded $2 million to build a new community center and skating rink. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski brought Brooklyn a federal check on Friday.
BROOKLYN, Ill. — Millions of dollars are heading to a Metro East town to bring a new community center and skating rink to the Village of Brooklyn. The town is finally seeing the dividends of a long fight for funding in the form of a $2 million federal check.
“Our hope has now turned into a reality”, said Mayor Trenton Atkins.
On Friday, Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski visited Brooklyn to deliver a $2 million federal check to the historic community.
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Rep. Budzinski secured the funding through the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding process to build a brand-new community center and skating rink from the ground up.
“The village has not had a community center. A center that can bring everyone together, whether it’s kids for after school programs, giving people workforce development skills, or a place for seniors. This $2 million investment is going to provide that,” said Budzinski.
For Brooklyn, the first Black-incorporated town in the United States, the investment is being hailed as a long-awaited sign of progress after years of disinvestment.
“That heartbeat is beating once again today,” Mayor Trenton Atkins says. “This is the day that we are still rejoicing.”
A home for the next generation
The site of the future center is located on Madison Street, a stretch of road that will be officially marked as part of the historic Route 66 later this summer. While the building currently stands abandoned, 9-year-old Tyland Trotter already sees the promise of what it will become.
“”I can bring my friends and family here and we can skate, play around, play basketball, do everything,” Tyland said.
Budzinski emphasized that the center will serve as a multi-generational hub, offering:
- After-school programs for children
- Workforce development and job skills training
- A dedicated space for seniors
“Getting this community center done is a really important first step,” Budzinski said. “But it cannot be the last step.”
As the village awaits a formal construction timeline from federal housing officials, residents are already celebrating a changing tide. For young people like Tyland, the future of Brooklyn is no longer a distant dream — it’s already here.
“There’s always going to be some point of life where someone is going to love you,” Tyland told 5 On Your Side.
The funding for Brooklyn is part of a broader $34 million investment across Budzinski’s 13th District.
