By Ted Flickinger
Managing Editor

We're pleased to share with you the creativity of various fourth grade students at schools throughout the State who entered the Illinois Park Districts' 1988 Art Contest.

You've already viewed the artistic talents of Kristina Giehl on the cover. Some of the other contest entries appear on pages 12 and 13.

This issue also introduces you to a rather unique program offering: massage workshops. Tracy Alden explains the popularity of the workshops in Western Springs.

If your agency has racquetball facilities, you'll find the article by Judy Julison particularly interesting. She explores reasons contributing to the sport's decreasing popularity, and projects about the possibilities for its comeback.

And speaking about programs, Michael Pfahl explains what we, as park and recreation professionals, can do to educate the volunteers who work with youth sports programs.

Other articles focus on:

• efforts to secure money for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program at Conservation Lobby Day.

• the Illinois General Assembly's actions during its recent spring session which affect park, recreation, forest preserve and conservation agencies.

• highlights from the Illinois Conservation, Park and Recreation Foundation's first annual statewide Fishing Derby. Your comments about this issue are welcome.

The cover photo is the first-place winner in the Illinois Park Districts' 1988 Art Contest. It was drawn by Kristina Giehl, a fourth grade student at St. Louis School in Princeton. Other entries appear on pages 12 and 13.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 5 July/August 1988