IAPD -Today-Tomorrow

by Peter J. Trenchant President-Elect (IAPD)

In its recent brochure, the Illinois Association of Park Districts describes itself as "a vehicle to bring together all agencies in Illinois concerned with the advancement of parks, recreation and conservation, and to provide the unity needed to meet the challenges of the future.

Karl B. Lohmann, an historian, wrote in 1962, that the then 35 year old IAPD was "a service agency for park boards, through which officials are able to speak with a single voice, especially before the State Legislature, the interests of park boards are furthered; park and recreation facilities are improved and extended; better methods of operation are promoted and through which information and experience on park problems are gathered and circulated."

At that time improvement goals were 1) a public stations department to help park boards and community committees plan and succeed in referendum efforts; 2) a park and recreation field consultant to call on local boards; 3) an expansion in the number of issues and content of the magazine; 4) the expansion of legal and legislative service; 5) the establishment of a research department and 6) an increase in the number of staff members in the headquarters office.

In 1973 the University of Illinois office of Recreation and Park Resources of the Department of recreation and Park Administration issued, as a result of a year long study of the internal and external operations of the IAPD, a report called "The prospectus for Tomorrow." This report was called purpose, program and organization of the IAPD. following are some of its recommendations for the IAPD:

— Establish better communication and interaction with its members, especially small park districts and those in the southern part of the State.

— Form five regions throughout Illinois to foster relations among park districts with comparable interests, location and resources.

— Hold multi-ballot elections and elect two representatives from each of these proposed five regions.

— That the IAPD office should remain in Springfield, with perhaps a Chicago area branch office with the IPRA and NRPA.

— Increase dues for park districts and establish dues for forest preserves, conservation districts and recreation departments based on assessed valuation.

— Explore the use of special membership assessments for specific legislative activites and the possibility of charging fees for some services.

— Actively seek financial support from philanthropic foundations.

— Seek to organize and promote a federation of organizations in Illinois concerned with recreation, parks, conservation and broad environmental issues.

— Develop a joint administrative board with the IPRA to administer both organizations under one executive director.

— The IAPD should develop a closer relationship with all Universities in Illinois.

— The key-person mailing list should be replaced by an all member list.

— The IAPD might consider a name change to reflect its interest in conservation and environmental concerns.

As this organization rounds out its nearly 50 years of existence, it is time to consider the future. Much planning and forethought have been done by our predecessors. Who could predict over 200 members and a budget exceeding $225,000? The Park District legislative accomplishments of these years are unparalleled in this country. Illinois, some say, has the finest, most efficient system of local park control in the country. Many fine people, both professionals as well as citizens, played leading roles in these 50 years. The IAPD has survived them all.

Today, as we look to the future, we should be proud to have such an organization and willing to play our roles in the planning for the next fifty years. For they surely will be more difficult. We must stand back for a moment and ask ourselves if we have accomplished that course which our leaders have set us on. Are we going in the right direction? Do we meet and anticipate the needs of our membership? Have we the foresight to reject those directions which set us astray and the courage to follow those, however unpopular, which seem to have merit?

Illinois Parks and Recreation 6 September/October, 1977

Public parks are experiencing greater demand use than at any time in our history, yet the ability to fund these activities is critically weak. Demand on the tax revenue and service of government are pushing public recreation farther and farther down the priority scale. We must become alarmed. Perhaps our very existence is being threatened.

Now is the time for unification of all efforts on behalf of the entire recreation and leisure movement in Illinois. United we shall stand, divided we surely will fall. It is time once again for the IAPD to provide leadership as a "vehicle to bring together all agencies in Illinois concerned with the advancement of parks, recreation and conservation and to provide unity."

Many of the above suggestions have not been formally presented for discussion. Today is not too soon!

Illinois Parks and Recreation 7 September/Octobter, 1977