In This Issue

By Ted Flickinger
Managing Editor

This month's IPR magazine mixes a bevy of diverse topics for you to read about.

Fitness lead the way to the 1988 Illinois State Fair for the second year in a row. Our new IPR editor. Milly Wallace, recaps the cooperative efforts of the Country Companies, the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA). This year, four teams of athletes set an example for all of us, traveling over 565 miles from all directions in the state, extolling the values of mental and physical fitness. For the first time, a team of wheelchair athletes from Champaign-Urbana joined the roster of the event's teams.

Additionally, we've reported on the overwhelming success of Illinois Department of Conservation's (IDOC) newest educational program, "Kids for Conservation". Kicked off at this year's State Fair, IDOC director Mark Frech reports record levels of enthusiasm for the program's initial stages.

On page 10 we're introducing Reader's Forum, an opportunity for IPR's readers to express their viewpoints and concerns.

The results of the 1988 Outdoor Recreation Plan appears on pages 12 and 13. This is the accumulated response of park and recreation professionals across the state, identifying priority issues affecting our abilities to provide future recreation opportunities in Illinois.

Other articles focus on:

• Governor Thompson's approval of Build Illinois funding for OSLAD and more interesting excerpts on the Legal/Legislative Scene by Peter M. Murphy.

• Highlights of theIAPD/IPRA Joint Legislative Awareness Day at White Pines Golf Course in Bensenville, IL.

• Population growth is challenging several park districts and Martha Heine discusses possibilities for coping with the situation.

Our state conference is coming up soon — January 5 thru 8, 1989 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL. Let me encourage you to send any conference-focused materials for possible inclusion in the Nov/Dec. issue of IPR.

We hope you enjoy this issue of IPR, and welcome your comments.

On The Cover

The cover photo of the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon was taken by freelance photographer Doug Carr. Located in Springfield's Washington Park, the Rees Carillon, one of the world's finest, towers 132 feet into the air. Sixty six bells reproduce a musical range of 5 1/2 octaves. Guest artists and local musicians perform recitals every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. For more information on the Rees Carillon call 217/546-0684, or contact the Springfield Park District at 217/544-1751.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 5 September/October 1988