SUMMER HAS COME AND GONE and the warm breezes have passed. Ice skating has replaced ball games and other popular summertime activity. The parks of many communities have become the meeting places for many a senior citizen groups who are settling down to wintertime activities.

This tranquil atmosphere is broken only by park district's maintenance crews as they continually work to clear the snow and keep the ice skating ponds in top shape.

In April, the park district elected Commissioners who received their oath of office and began to set policies and determine the direction park districts would take all over the state. The position of Commissioner is a thankless one which requires many hours of work each month and a wide scope of community problems and needs. Many Commissioners also possess vast knowledge of the park and recreation field which is most helpful when dispensing the duties of their unpaid position.

In the past, a position on the park district board held little esteem among the community's politicians. These positions were virtually free from party politics and people "ran" beacause of an interest in their community.

Recently, in some cases however, these elections have become bitter battles with all the ear marks of major elections, right down to the name calling, slanderous accusations and attempts to defame one's character. Add to that the vast resources of a political party and you have a situation which could ruin the purpose of our park and recreation departments.

The recent interest shown by political organizations may be attributed to their sudden awareness of the number of jobs a large park district has to offer. Control of these jobs could lead to a patronage system, which would not have the best interests of the park and recreation field in mind.

With an increase in leisure time, the park district's responsibility to the community will drastically increase. The people they employ to administrative positions will have to possess a vast knowledge of the field along with numerous innovative ideas.

The leaders will have to possess exceptional qualities and the ability to teach both young and old. They must also have the physical capacity to take part in activities when it is necessary in order to improve the program.

Some park districts have succumed to political influences. Their decisions are tainted by partisan political organizations whose motives are not always in the best interests of the park districts.

There is a park district located in the western suburbs which almost became another fatality on the list of politically run districts. If not for a handful of people who would not be intimidated by a political figure and his following, this district would not be directed toward the goal of meeting the needs and desires within the community. Their decisions would not have been based on their knowledge of the community's needs, but on the wishes of a political party whose knowledge of this field is virtually nil.

It is very easy for anyone to find fault and make accusations, but much more difficult to supply the ways and means to rectify the situation.

There are numerous individuals who can claim the responsibility for guiding a park district toward its goals. The Board of Commissioners can set policies and the Director can apply them as needed.

However, in the final analysis, the people who exercise their right to vote have the most responsibility. If more interest was shown in park district elections and a greater effort was put forth to "know" the candidates, most of the major problems would not exist.

John Dvorak is President of the Memorial Park District in Bellwood and Frank Fencl is their Recreation Superintendent.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 16 November/December, 1971