PUBLIC AWARENESS PERSPECTIVE

Illinois Park Districts, Forest Preserves
and Recreation Agencies Add Spice
to the Illinois State Fair

by Bobbie Jo Moore

Webster's New World Dictionary defines a "day" as: "the period of light between sunrise and sunset." You may have noticed that this definition lacks enthusiasm and excitement, but the Illinois Association of Park Districts, the Illinois Department of Conservation and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association have joined together to spice up one day in particular. That day is Saturday, August 20, Park District Conservation Day at the Illinois State Fair.

What's their secret recipe? The three organizations have combined programs like "Snakes In Illinois" and "Endangered Species" with the Chicago Wheelchair Bulls basketball team, singers, dancers, tumblers and aerobics groups; mixed them with a festive foot-stomping, hand clapping kickoff celebration; sprinkled it with bus loads of park district, forest preserve and recreation lovers; and topped it with Governor Jim Edgar. The result? An ordinary day at the Illinois State Fair has been transformed into a spicy hot buffet of fun, flavorful entertainment from all over the state!

A quick glance at the menu will convince even the most finicky person to order tickets for the day. The appetizer includes a Park District Conservation Day kickoff celebration complete with music, giveaways, speakers such as Governor Edgar, and special appearances by Smokey Bear and Woodsy the Owl. Guests can wash that down with Walk Illinois, a leisurely 1K walk through Conservation World created to promote the awareness of health, fitness and the Illinois outdoors.

The main course consists of a variety of tangy entertainment in four areas of the fairgrounds: Conservation World, Lincoln Stage, the Illinois Building's Senior Center and Club Mickey D's.

Conservation World will host a stage reserved exclusively for park district, forest preserve and recreation agency presentations. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's nature detective puppets will embark upon a wetland safari during "Adventures in a Mysterious Marsh;" Oak Lawn Park District's SEEMORE the Eagle will educate audiences via song and dance; and Springfield Park District's Henson Robinson Zoo will present its "Unloved Animals" program, featuring a Giant Hissing Cockroach.

Once the nature palate has been satisfied, guests can move along to Lincoln Stage, where a medley of musical, dance and gymnastics performances will take place. Oak Lawn Park District's Star Makers and Rhythm Express, Waukegan Park District's Benny Tones Barber Shop Quartet, and the Markham Park District Performing Troupe will serenade guests with a taste of diverse toons. Granite City, Bolingbrook, Champaign and Beardstown Park Districts will display delightful dancing to be enjoyed by all; and gymnastics teams from Romeoville Recreation Department, Oak Forest and Joliet Park Districts will cartwheel, flip-flop and fly across the stage.

After sampling the great, gourmet entertainment offered at Lincoln Stage, guests can relish succulent senior shows inside the Illinois Building's air-conditioned Senior Center. The Park Ridge Recreation and Park District will show-off its "Stampede" of Country Western Line Dancers and tap-dancers; Schaumburg Park District's Fitness Recall Plus will aerobicize all appetites; and the Rolling Meadows Park District will indulge

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even the most voracious with its variety show.

For dessert, the Chicago Wheelchair Bulls and Bulls Juniors basketball teams, sponsored by the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association, will stimulate your sweet tooth with challenging games versus St. Louis rivals. Fast-paced, thrilling matches of skill and precision are a guaranteed order at Club Mickey D's.

At the end of the day, guests can relax and digest these exciting events by listening to the Symphonic Pops Orchestra of Chicago, a complimentary concert provided by the Illinois State Fair in the Grandstand.

Don't just fast through another boring period of light between sunrise and sunset! Visit Park District Conservation Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and sample the spicy mixture of Illinois park district, forest preserve and recreation agency entertainment.

Call IAPD today at (217) 523-4554 to order a Coordinator's Kit complete with a Park District Conservation Day ticket order form, schedules for the day and directions to the fairgrounds.

Bobbie Jo Moore is the Public Relations Coordinator for the Illinois Association of Park Districts.*

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