FROM THE EDITOR

What year was it? Here's Illinois Parks & Recreation's version of NBC's "Dateline" time line:

In his keynote speech "Parks or Prisons," presented at the annual conference, special agent J.E. Thornton of the Federal Bureau of Investigation addressed the issue of youth at risk and compared the low cost of parks to the high cost of crime.

Ten acres of park land per 1,000 population was the working standard for park planning.

The association magazine was published out of IAPD headquarters at 500 East Capitol in Springfield.

Do you remember what year it was?

I'm guessing most won't, since it was 1941. But, wow, how some things never change!

What I didn't mention is that in 1941 the magazine was called "The Illinois Park Board Bulletin," IAPD had 55 members and its annual convention took in $300 in revenue. (The Illinois Recreation Association or IRA—a forerunner of IPRA—would organize three years later, in 1944.)

My, how things have changed.

The roots of Illinois' park and recreation movement reach back to the 1860s in Chicago, where groups of citizens lobbied the state legislature to create public parks or "breathing spaces" in the burgeoning city. (See page 23 for a fascinating history lesson, told decade by decade.)

Today Illinois park districts and forest preserves number greater than 370.

The quality of natural areas and recreational services offered by these agencies has earned Illinois its reputation of having the best local park district system in the United States.

In 1941, special agent Thornton also said: "The American people need parks and recreational facilities available to them."

Rest assured, Illinois will keep providing.

ANN LONDRIGAN
Editor

4 / Illinois Parks and Recreation