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People, Places & Things Americans With Disabilities Act In Effect for Park, Forest Preserve, Conservation Districts by John N. McGovern The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) became effective January 26,1992, for Illinois park, forest preserve and conservation districts, as well as for municipalities, counties and extensions of units of local governments such as special recreation associations. This comprehensive civil rights law prohibits intentional and unintentional discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of state and local government services. Leisure service agencies, whether they receive federal funds or not, will be immediately affected by the ADA. By January 26, 1992, people with disabilities who live in your community must have been notified of your intent to comply with the ADA. This notice requirement may be met in a number of ways. It is strongly recommended that the governing board of each entity adopt a resolution on intent to comply with the ADA and that at the very least, program brochures contain a statement of intent to abide by the ADA and make reasonable accommodations. By January 26, 1992, park, forest preserve, conservation districts and special recreation associations with 50 or more employees must have designated one or more staff to coordinate ADA compliance and to receive and investigate complaints alleging ADA violations. By January 26, 1992, park, forest preserve, conservation districts and special recreation associations with 50 or more employees must have established an internal system for the receipt and resolution of complaints alleging non-compliance with the ADA. By the time you read this, your park, forest preserve, conservation district or special recreation association should have started the required self-evaluation of all practices, programs, services and facilities to determine where barriers or discriminatory practices exist and how they can be removed. The self-evaluation must be completed not later than January 26, 1992. By July 26, 1992, park, forest preserve, conservation districts and special recreation associations with 50 or more employees must create a transition plan which describes in detail the removal of barriers which will require structural change. All transition plan projects must be completed as soon as is possible, but not later than January 26,1995. Be aware with regard to transition plan activity and self-evaluation that the park, forest preserve, conservation district, as well as the special recreation association, is still responsible for violations which may occur after the January 26,1992, implementation date of the law. Therefore, even if an agency is working in good faith, it is not protected from the filing of an internal complaint, administrative complaint, or suit in federal court. The importance of good faith cannot be underestimated. The U.S. Department of Justice has indicated that good faith efforts will be recognized in actions filed during the self-evaluation period. About the Author John N. McGovern earned his law degree in 1988 at Loyola University of Chicago, and is now a consultant on the Americans With Disabilities Act. Representative Richard A. Mautino passes away Illinois State Representative Richard A. Mautino, 53, of Webster Park in Spring Valley, died Thursday morning, August 29,1991, at St. Margaret Hospital in Spring Valley. The Illinois Democrat from the 74th District was currently serving his ninth term in the General Assembly, House of Representatives. He was chairman of the Insurance Committee and served on the Housing Committee, Registration and Regulation Committee, was a member of the Board of Illinois Institute for Entrepreneurship Education, chairman of the Bureau County Democratic Central Committee, a member of the Professional Advisory Board of Illinois Association of Learning Disabilities and a member of the Board of Directors of Solid Gold Futurity. Born July 7,1938, in Spring Valley, son of Frank and Amelia "Millie" (Martini) Mautino, he graduated from Bradley University with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1960, majoring in marketing and minoring in business law. He was also a member of numerous task forces including the Task Force of Nuclear Waste Management, caucus chairman of the U.S. Department of Labor, and Democratic Task Force on Utilities. He married Joan Corcoran April 4,1959, in Ranson. She survives as well as two sons, Richard Jr. and Frank of Spring Valley; one daughter, Mrs. Antonio (Julie) Messina of Sicily; two grandsons and two granddaughters; his mother of Spring Valley; and one brother, Tony, also of Spring Valley. His father preceded him in death. Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 31, 1991, at St. Anthony Church with the Rev. Sylvester Jesilowski officiated. Burial was in Valley Memorial Park, Spring Valley. Representative Mautino was indeed a friend of parks, recreation and conservation. He was a staunch supporter of the preservation of our precious natural resources and wildlife. Without his invaluable assistance, many of the bills mandating protection of our environment would not be in effect.
People, Places & Things Channahon Park District dedicates new Community Center
The Channahon Park District dedicated Arrowhead Recreation Center on November 3, 1991. The one story, 17,800 square foot facility houses the District's administrative offices. The building will also be home to meeting and program rooms including two pre-school rooms, and a 2,000 square foot exercise/dance/youth activities room, and two racquetball courts and men's and women's locker rooms. Designed by Healy, Snyder, Bender and Associates of Joliet, Arrowhead Community Center is located in the 44-acre Central Park along U.S. Route 6. Work started on September 30, 1991, on the Channahon Park District's 18-hole Channahon Golf Club. The 166-acre site will include four sets of tees at each hole for playing lengths of 5,050 yards to 7,110 yards, a lighted driving range/teaching station, bentgrass fairways, USGA specification greens, and a full irrigation system. The project has been designed by Dick Nugent Associates of Long Grove, and is being built by the Wadsworth Golf Construction Company of Plainfield. Channahon Golf Club is located on Bluff Road, one-quarter mile east of 1-55. Completion of construction will be September 1992 with play beginning in late 1993 or early 1994.
Bob Espeseth receives Sustained Excellence in Extension Programming Award Robert D. Espeseth, CLP, was recently honored by the Illinois Cooperative Extension Service with the Sustained Excellence in Extension Programming award. During the past 18 years, he has been involved in a series of relevant and innovative research, education and public service programs that have involved other staff members and numerous volunteers. His most recent program accomplishments are in the areas of rural revitalization, tourism information and education, hospitality training, bed-and-breakfast enterprise development and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant program. He has demonstrated his prolific writing skills in the production of numerous monographs, bulletins, research reports, periodicals and magazine articles. He has also been an invited speaker at workshops and conferences throughout the nation. He has served IPRA as Second Director, PNRMS, and is currently on the NRPA Board of Trustees. He has been recognized by his peers and other professionals for his work and he has increased recognition and enhanced appreciation for the Illinois Cooperative Extension Service. He is an associate professor in the Department of Leisure Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He began his career with the Cooperative Extension Service in 1973.
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