FROM THE EDITOR
No man is an island. The whole is better than the sum of its parts. I heard a lot of cliches like these during talks with authors and interviews for this focus issue on partnerships. However overused and trite they seem, cliches become cliches because of their usefulness in summarizing, in a simple way, complex ideas or situations. The best one I heard came from Jim Olson, director of operations for the Rockford School District, who was actually quoting baseball great Yogi Berra when he said, "We are burdened by insurmountable opportunity."
Olson thinks partnerships among park and school districts Those doors take many forms—from grass-cutting agreements and shared parking lots, to cooperative programs for at-risk youth and jointly built water parks and state-of-the-art fitness/wellness facilities. Is there a common denominator? All partnerships—large or small, involving money or the barter system—are an effective use of the taxpayer's dollar. Most save money. Many provide increased services. All require vision and leadership. Each issue of Illinois Parks & Recreation includes an article on intergovernmental cooperation. This issue features a few more than usual, and they begin on page 27. If you have a unique partnership story to tell—something that will help others think creatively about the opportunities available in their communities—send it in to Illinois Parks & Recreation. We lead by example.
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