Carol Stream Wins Prestigious Gold Medal

The 2002 National Gold Medal Awards, co-sponsored by the National Sporting Goods Association's (NSGA) Sports Foundation, Inc. and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), were presented to winners at the NRPA Congress held October 16 in Tampa, Fla. These awards are presented annually to communities and states for excellence in park and recreation administration. The Gold Medal Awards Program is co-sponsored by Porter Athletic Equipment Co. The winners are:

Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax, VA
Class I (pop. 250,000+) Nominated by Fitness Resource, Inc.

Greensboro Parks & Recreation Department, Greensboro, NC
Class II (100,000 - 250,000) Nominated by Bocock Sports

Asheville Parks and Recreation Department, Asheville, NC
Class III (50,000 - 250,000) Nominated by Angelo's Shoes, Inc.

Carol Stream Park District, Carol Stream, IL
Class IV (20,000 - 50,000) Nominated by K&M Team Outfitters

City of Lafayette Parks & Recreation Department, Lafayette, CO
Class V (less than 20,000) Nominated by Gart Sports

Selection of the Grand Award Winner in each class was based upon improvement, service, continuing development, extent of future planning and degree of participant involvement and acceptance by the community. Judges are nationally recognized authorities in the field of park and recreation management: chairperson Richard Zavala, Parks and Community Services Department, Fort Worth, Texas; Ellen O'Sullivan, Leisure Lifestyle Consulting, Glastonbury, Conn.; Steven K. Messerli, Lake County Forest Preserve District, Libertyville, Ill.; Chris Jarvi, director of Community Services, Anaheim, Calif.; and Bertha Cato, College of Health and Human Services, Gainesville, Fla.

Three Illinois Agencies Receive Kudos

The National Recreation and Park Association announced the winners of the its Kudos Award for excellence in marketing and communications, print and Web media. From Illinois, the winners are:

• Best Recreation Catalogue - Bensenville Park District (Class I)

• Best Web site and Home Page - Fox Valley Park District (Class IV)

• Best Overall Communicator - Bolingbrook Park District (Class II)

(Left to right) Donald Jessen, IAPD president and CB-M Awards chair Mary Garrison, Ted Flickinger, Ph.D. and James F. Cooke.

Cooke, Flickinger and Jessen Receive Citizen Board Member Awards

Three from Illinois received awards from the National Recreation and Park Associations Citizen-Board Member (C-BM) Branch, at the National Congress on October 19. James F. Cooke, commissioner for the St. Charles Park District, received the Robert M. Artz Award, recognizing Cookes efforts to expand recreational opportunities for teens and older adults as well as trail and park development. The Professional Excellence Award was presented to Ted Flickinger, Ph.D., executive director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, citing his 40 years of experience and leadership in the field of parks and recreation. Donald Jessen, a 22-year commissioner for the Veterans Park District, received the C-BM Service Award for his dedication to advocacy on the local and state levels.

Messerli Named Distinguished Alumnus

Steven K. Messerli, executive director of the Lake County Forest Preserves, was named recipient of the California State University, San Bernardino 2002 Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Business and Public Administration. Messerli was selected for the Distinguished Alumnus honor for completing his graduate studies there in public administration and business (1990), and for his 33 years of public service in the field of public administration, conservation, parks and recreation. Messerii has served as executive director for the Lake County Forest Preserves since 1991. Under his leadership, Lake County was voted the national Gold Medal Award in 1999, the highest national distinction an agency in the field can earn. Messerii also serves on the board of directors and as treasurer of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. He is a member of the National Park and Recreation Research Institute board of directors and is a judge for the prestigious Gold Medal Award program. Previously, Messerii served as director of Regional Parks for San Bernardino County, California. He also worked for the Fairfax County Park Authority, Virginia, and the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation, Michigan. Messerii received a bachelor's of science degree from East Tennessee State University, and a master of public administration from California State University.

Decatur Receives Award of Excellence

The Decatur Park District received an Award of Excellence from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for Rotary Park development

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and Sportsmen's Park development. The awards are given annually to recognize exemplary grant project efforts that can become models for other projects in the state of Illinois. The two Decatur projects were chosen for their innovative design, planning, and project administration.

"Projects such as these highlight the tremendous efforts of local park districts to provide high quality recreational opportunities to the people in their communities," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources director Brent Manning. "The Decatur Park District should be proud of its efforts and its long-term commitment to the community it serves.

Rotary Park, a new outdoor sports complex located along Route 51 on the city's south edge, was developed in part with $200,000 from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant fund. Portions of Sportsmen's Park were developed through a grant from Boat Access Area Development funds. Nominations for Awards of Excellence are made by IDNR grant administrators based on their experience with projects throughout the year. Recipients for the award were selected for recognition from over 100 local grant projects completed throughout the year.

Oakes Retires

In November 2002, Gerald M. "Gerry" Oakes leaves behind the daily management of an organization employing 103 full-time and 800-plus part-time people, Gerald "Gerry" Oakes, executive director of the Arlington Heights Park District and his wife Darlene will head for the open road in their Pace Arrow motor home to visit family out West before wintering along the Gulf Coast. After 21 years at the helm, director Oakes looks back on a tenure that begin in 1981. He'd been director of the Winnetka Park District for only 15 months when the Arlington Heights board chose him to take control of a park district thought to be fully grown and in a maintenance mode.

He continued the districts history of long-range planning with the introduction of the five-year Comprehensive Plan. As a proponent of customer service, he believes in hiring and keeping good employees. Keeping ahead of the technology curve is another hallmark of his years at the park district. All supervisors have a computer at their desks and the districts' award-winning Web site has been operational for three years.

The Arlington Heights Park District is a three-time national Gold Medal Award winner for excellence in park and recreation management, and a Distinguished Agency of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

Oakes is the recipient of the NRPA's Professional Excellence Award, the Robert M. Artz Award and the Fellow Award from IPRA, and the Recreation Department Alumni of the Year from Southern Illinois University. He is a past member of the board of regents for the Revenue Sources Management School in Wheeling, West Virginia, has served on the IPRA board as president and chaired the Illinois Professional Development School. Oakes was named business leader of the year 2001 by the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce and 2002 Rotarian of the year by the Arlington Heights Rotary Club.

Roger Key was named executive director of the Arlington Heights Park District, began his career at the Arlington Heights Park District in 1973 and has held many positions in the recreation department, most recently, director of recreation and facilities. Key is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a degree in Parks and Recreation Administration and a master's of Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management. He is a certified park and recreation professional, a recipient of the Illinois Park and Recreation Associations Meritorious Service Award, and he serves on the Distinguished Agency committee. A member of the National Recreation and Park Association, Key completed the NRPA Executive Development School, Golf Management School and the Revenue and Management School.

Jim Glueckert was named director of recreation and facilities for the Arlington Heights Park District. He started with the park district in 1973. After part-time positions as a rink guard, program leader and pool manager, Glueckert began a full-time progression through the recreation department. A longtime advocate of youth sports, he coaches girls softball and basketball and he's coached the Arlington Heights Youth Athletic program for 10 years. He is a high school football official and has worked state championship tournaments. In 2002 he was selected for the Arlington Heights High School District 214 "Alumni Make a Difference" Award. He is an IPRA certified park and recreation professional and has served on the association s Athletic Committee.

John Robinson was named superintendent of recreation for the Arlington Heights Park District. Robinson was hired as a recreation supervisor in 1991 and he became athletic supervisor in 1994, also supervising the park district's preschool and day camp activities. A Wisconsin native, Robinson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse and has completed courses at the Professional Development School and Sports Management School. He's looking forward to expanding his knowledge of the park district facilities as he oversees Lake Arlington and the golf courses in his new job.

Annemarie Healy was named athletic supervisor for the Arlington Heights Park District. A part-time summer employee during her school years, Healy became a rull-time supervisor in 1997 after receiving a BA from Columbia College. She was a center supervisor at Pioneer and Recreation parks until 1999 when she became Lake Arlington/athletic supervisor. Healy is a Boy Scout Merit Badge counselor and has been a "red shirt" volunteer at Frontier Days for the past three years.

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Kevin Keister as named Lake Arlington/athletic supervisor for the Arlington Heights Park District. A Leisure Studies graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Keister became a recreation supervisor in 1996. He's been a center supervisor at Camelot and Pioneer parks, using his aquatic management skills during the pool renovation at Pioneer Park in 1998.

Jeff Hotchkiss was named recreation supervisor for the Arlington Heights Park Districts Frontier Park. A recent graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources, Hotchkiss did his internship at the Arlington Heights Park District this past summer, getting an overview of all departments. A native of Napoleon, Michigan, he now lives in Waukegan.

Megan Pettit was named public relations and marketing supervisor at the Lockport Township Park District. She is a 2002 graduate of Eastern Illinois University, majoring in Communications. Her responsibilities include maintenance of the Web site, writing press releases, designing print material, advertising and promoting programs and events. She also is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.

Steve Lunde was promoted to director of golf course operations for the Prairie Bluff Golf Course, a facility of the Lockport Township Park District where he has worked as an assistant golf professional since March of 1998. He is responsible for the golf course staff, revenue of the pro shop and golf course, golf lessons, tournaments and budget. He is part of the PGA program and also has worked as an assistant golf pro at the Naperbrook Golf Course.

Andy Fleck is the new recreation supervisor at the O'Fallon Parks and Recreation Department. Fleck comes to O'Fallon from the Chicago area where he worked seasonally as a camp director for the Lake Zurich Recreation Department and also as an athletic supervisor for the Cary Park District. He received a bachelor's degree in Recreation Management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), where he volunteered his free time as a youth group leader for the First Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Terry G. Schwartz recently joined the St. Louis-based firm of Counsilman/Hunsaker & Associates, as the operations studio director. Schwartz is responsible for the firm's analysis tool called the Enterprise Plans Model, which is a business plan that provides essential information derived from the specific needs of a particular community with researched opinions of construction and project costs, operational costs, and revenue considerations. Prior to joining

November/December 2002 49

Counsilman/Hunsaker, Schwartz was a faculty member for Western Illinois University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was also a practitioner for 25 in the Illinois parks and recreation profession. He served as director of the Glen Ellyn Park District; superintendent of revenue facilities for the Arlington Heights Park District; and, superintendent of recreation for the Champaign Park District and the City of Alton, ILL. Schwartz is a past president of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, co-founder of the Facility Management Section and former president of SIPRA and CIRCLE.

Robyn Miller, a certified art therapist, has been named manager of inclusion at the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association. Miller works with families of children with disabilities and park district staff to make certain that those who choose recreation alongside children without disabilities receive the support necessary to enjoy the program. She works closely with other NSSRA staff to implement the inclusion process. Miller holds an M.A. in Art Therapy from the University of Illinois. Her experience includes a year as a recreation specialist at NSSRA, developing cooperative programs with other organizations serving people with disabilities in the northern suburbs, and two years prior experience in community mental health settings.

Sara Tappa, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist, has been named as the recreation specialist assigned to Inclusion at the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association in Northbrook, Illinois. Tappa works with families of children with disabilities and park district staff to make certain that those who choose recreation alongside children without disabilities receive the support necessary to enjoy the program. She holds a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Her experience includes a year as a Recreation Specialist at NSSRA, overseeing NSSRA recreation programs for children with disabilities in the northern suburbs.

Brenda Parrish, CTRS, has been hired as a regional coordinator for the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA) in Crystal Lake. She will develop programs and promote participation in NISRA's northwest region districts, and oversee contractual programs with the McHenry County Mental Health Board. Brenda earned her Master's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. She worked for the Rockford Park District's Community and Therapeutic Recreation Team prior to joining the NISRA staff.

Tara Schmitz has been hired as a recreation specialist at the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association. Schmitz will work on special events and the unique Joint Summer program, which jointly provides school special education services as well as summer day camp experiences. Schmitz earned a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Candice Sloss has been hired as a recreation specialist at the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association. Sloss will develop and oversee recreation and therapeutic recreation programs for adults with disabilities who live in the NSSRA partner communities. Sloss holds a B. A. in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Northern Iowa. Her experience includes an internship at another special recreation association, and work while in college at a progressive inclusion program in Iowa.

Laura Ann Foxgrover was promoted by the Chicago Park District to director of park services from senior project manager. Foxgrover manages the park district's revenue generating ventures including parking, harbors, golf courses, concessions and Soldier Field contracts as well as sponsorship and land use agreements, permits for lakefront special events and the Special Use Facility Program. Prior to joining the park district, Foxgrover was director of marketing and public relations for Michael Jordan's Restaurant, and served as vice president of Marketing and vice president of Human Resources for Southwest Financial Band & Trust Company. Foxgrover received her BA in Economics from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

Megan McDonald joined the Chicago Park District as lakefront region manager. McDonald leads a department that includes Chicago's 14 lakefront parks, which host a variety of large scale special events, and manages staff including landscape crews, park instructors, professional staff and maintenance. McDonald comes to the park district from the Mayors Office of Special Events where she served as a special events coordinator in the Sports Development Division planning events including the Olympic Torch Relay through Chicago, Bike Chicago 2002 and Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival. Previously McDonald worked for the National Conference of State Legislators planning leisure events for 8,000 attendees and ran the student ambassador/internship program for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. McDonald received her BA in Arts and Sciences from Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut where she also served as a member of the student government.

Caroline O' Boyle was promoted by the Chicago Park District to director of special events and programs. The new department creates and implements the park district's outdoor and environmental education programs, coordinates programs for the District's 12 cultural centers, provides leadership in the development of after-school, youth employment and summer programs and produces special events and

PARKS & ILLINOIS RECREATION Send People and Places/Letters to: Editor, Illinois Parks & Recreation alondrigan@ILparks.org or 217.523.4273 (fax) * Limit entries to 75 words or fewer. Accompanying black-and-whife or color digital or print photographs are welcome. Submissions are published in the order in which they are received and as space is available.

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Farewell Messages, 2002 IAPD President and IPRA President

Jill Bartholomew, CPRP IPRA President Supt. Of Recreation, Homewood-Flossmoor Park District As my presidency draws to a close, I hope that you will look back on 2002 as a positive, productive year for IPRA. Traveling around the state, I sensed you were pleased by the changes and improvements IPRA has made over the past year. Here are just a few of them: • Liza McElroys North/Central/South Task Force made great headway. • A new membership survey will be conducted in 2003. • Jane Hodgkinson and the finance committee tackled a tight budget for 2003. • The IPRA staff developed new programs and publications. • Bill Wald and Tom Ford landed a new three-year contract with the Western Golf Association. • Kudos to Mentoring Committee and Chair Dan Schimmel, for matching 36 new pairs. • IPRA successfully received 501 (c)3 tax status which will provide a world of new options for the association. • IPRA held a successful terrorism training information session. Like every organization, we have our share of challenges. In my opinion, these are some of our future opportunities: • Involve more volunteers to keep our Sections strong. • Select committees require new clearly defined directions. • We must work against future agency referendum attacks. • We must pursue grants to keep IPRA healthy and funded. • We owe it to ourselves to hire a lobbyist to work on behalf of IPRA-exclusive issues. • And we must keep our retirees involved and seek new students to join our profession. At the NPRA Conference last October, I listened to the concerns of members of the Council of Affiliate Presidents. Other presidents articulated their concerns and breakthroughs. Their words reinforced something I already knew: that Illinois is looked up to by the other states. Illinois Park and Recreation professionals and commissioners are seen as visionaries on the right track. Your work is to be commended and I urge our association to stay progressive and on-track. It has been my pleasure to serve as your president for 2002 and I look forward to seeing what the future brings.

Mary Garrison IAPD President Commissioner, Winnetka Park District Thanks to you, the members of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, for your wonderful support of our association and my term as your president. IAPD lends outstanding support to its membership. This past year—perhaps most important to our members— is our success at developing new revenue sources to help park districts, forest preserves and special recreation departments at the local level well into the future. Overcoming many obstacles, HB 4229/SB 1621 was signed by Governor Ryan. It provides IAPD a special "Park Districts Benefit Youth" license plate to support youth programming in local park districts statewide. It is a potential source of millions of dollars of annual funding for Illinois parks and recreation stemming from license plate renewals. The plate features a colorful kite and this, too, is the symbol of our 2003 state conference! Kites have no limits! IAPD also lobbied successfully for more than $800,000 in grant money from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General as part of the Vitamin Anti-Trust Settlement. The funds will help further the IAPD mission of providing resources for its members! The new Ambassadors golf outings to support Friends of Illinois Parks and the Donald F. Bresnan Commissioner Scholarship Fund were successful in 2002 and will grow in revenue annually. There are so many to thank for help, encouragement and inspiration this past year. • Thank you to all IAPD members! • To the competent, helpful and friendly staff at IAPD for assistance! • To the loyal, conscientious, and hard-working IAPD Board of Directors team! • To the Winnetka Park District board, staff, and director Liza McElroy for their unfailing support. John D. Rockerfeller once said, "If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success." Our association is doing just that. Let's focus on the "new paths" of the future, when we will be proud to see the kite license plates everywhere, spreading the message, "Park Districts Benefit Youth." My thoughts about this past year as your president are that you are no ka oi; in Hawaiian, that means "better than the best." That's what you and IAPD signify to me. It is a treasure to witness our two great state associations together working effectively to build and to promote parks and recreation at its best.

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activities for the whole family like Theatre on the Lake, Movies and Concerts in the Parks, Hidden Treasures Tours and Nature Oasis Family Field Trips. O'Boyle first joined the park district as a coordinator for the pilot phase of Park Voyagers, a program that now exists in 54 city parks, then moved on to the position of special projects coordinator for experiential education programs like Stewardship Days, City Challenge and Junior Earth Team. O'Boyle received her MAT from Columbia College Chicago and her BS from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and has a State of Illinois Teaching Certificate.

Roberts Steele joined the Chicago Park District as community outreach manager. In the position Steele works with Park Advisory Councils, involved neighborhood volunteers, to steer the growth of community parks. Steele has over 17 years experience in community, business and technical service helping develop projects that included the participation of over 200 organizations. Prior to joining the Park District Steele served as the executive director of the Lawndale Business and Local Development Corp. in Chicago, executive director of the West Cluster Collaborative Empowerment Zone in Chicago, and as Senior Placement Specialist for Joyces Fine Arts Academy. He received his BS in Business Administration from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, Urban Developers Program Certificate from UIC and Economic Development Financing Certificate from the Chicago Community Loan Fund.

James Rogers was promoted to director of park and recreation services for the Elmhurst Park District. This streamlined new position will help the park district more effectively develop a broad and diversified program of recreation activities and services for the preschool through senior citizen population. Some of Rogers' responsibilities include planning, developing, managing and maintaining recreation programs, parks, facilities, and capital improvements. He also oversees the planning, design, layout, and construction of new and renovated parks and facilities.

Angela Ferrentino has been promoted to division manager of facilities at the Elmhurst Park District. Her new responsibilities include overseeing operations and maintenance at district facilities, including swimming pools. The Abbey senior center, Activity Center, athletic fields and playgrounds, as well as managing the scheduling of buildings and athletic fields, prioritizing and directing routine maintenance, capital improvements, and contract maintenance activities.

Lori Mills was promoted to racquet sports supervisor for the Elmhurst Park District. This new position is just another step forward for Mills, who has been involved in parks and recreation since 1984. She began her employment with the park district at Courts Plus, center for health, sports, and fitness and has worked in the Racquet Sports Department as the Coordinator since 1998. Her new full-time duties as Supervisor include developing and assisting with special events, monitoring court scheduling, league administration, lessons, payment and more.

Anne Scheppele/CPRP, has been named manager of the Lincoln Community Center. She is responsible for overseeing center operations, including registration and maintenance staff. She comes to Downers Grove from the St. Charles Park District where she managed the Pottawatomie Community Center. She also served as a recreation supervisor for the Carol Stream Park District. She holds a B.A. in Secondary Education Physical Education and Health from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. Scheppele is a member of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association. Editor's Note: In the September/October issue, a photograph was published with Scheppele's announcement that was hers.

Jonelle Von Hatten was promoted to teen programs and center director for the St. Charles Park District. Von Hatten oversees two full-time teen recreation supervisors and manages STC Underground Teen Center, which averages 500 monthly visitors. Previously, she was a recreation supervisor who implemented a variety of new programs and trips for teens. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in RPTA (Recreation, Parks, Tourism, Administration) with an emphasis in Park Administration and Nature Conservation. Her professional career began at the Skokie Park District in the spring of 1998 as the outreach programs coordinator for the Spot Teen Center.

Stephanie Skrzypek joined the St. Charles Park District as teen recreation supervisor in charge of STC Underground Teen Center operations and programming. She received a bachelor of science in Recreation Administration from Eastern Illinois University. Previously, she interned at Windy City Fieldhouse in Chicago and worked as camp director at Heritage YMCA in Naperville.

Debra J. Hills has joined the Finance and Human Resources Department at the Elmhurst Park District. As the new senior accountant, her duties include training, supervising, and directing the daily activities of accounting clerical staff, assisting with the annual audit, payroll reports, budget information, and additional responsibilities. Hills previously worked for the U.S. Department of Energy in Oakland, California and was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Federal Financial Mangers Council. The Elmhurst Park District is an Illinois Distinguished Agency dedicated to providing "Lifetime Enjoyment."

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Julie Sims and Sara Prombo were named community center supervisors of the St. Charles Park District. At different shifts, they supervise the customer service desk including staff, facility scheduling, rentals, and open gym time for the district's Pottawatomie Community Center. Sims is also responsible for the Summer Concert in the Park Series. Previously, she served three years as a receptionist at PCC and two years as a Donor Services Representative for the American Red Cross in Decatur, Illinois. Sims also has a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Ohio University. Prombo previously worked five years as the service desk Manager/Membership Sales at the Delnor Health and Wellness Center in Geneva, Illinois. She received a degree in Leisure Education/Recreation Program Services from Southern Illinois University.

IPRA Announces Newly Certified Professionals

• Tom Rohner, Jr., APRP, Facility Maintenance Supervisor, Bardett Park District

• Jesse A. Felix, APRP, Superintendent of Parks, West Chicago Park District

Monica Haluczak is the St. Charles Park Districts new recreation supervisor responsible for aquatics, after school activities, youth programming, and special events. She graduated from Aurora University with a degree in Recreation Administration with an emphasis on Program Management. Previously, she worked part-time for the District teaching preschool classes and assisting with teen and youth programs.

Forest Preserve Receives Clean Energy Grant

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County received grant monies totaling $200,000 from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) to help facilitate the district's Habitat Improvement Project. The grant will support the Brewster Creek Wetland Restoration Initiative at Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve in Wayne. Grant monies will be used to restore a unique wetland along the east fork of Brewster Creek that was formed over glacial lake sediments and peat. This delicate area had been artificially drained farmland for several years. The Brewster Creek Wetland Restoration Initiative has restored

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more than 800 acres of native habitats over the last five years. The ICECF supports programs and projects that preserve and enhance natural areas and works to develop renewable energy resources and improvements in energy efficiency.

EPA Awards Environmental Education Grants

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 recently awarded $23,355 to environmental education projects in Illinois. The recipients are Lake County Forest Preserve District, Lake Michigan Federation, Wheaton Park District and Windy City Earth Force. More than 150 organizations competed for funds. As required by law, most of the awards are for grass-roots programs costing $5,000 or less.

• $5,000 to Lake County Forest Preserve District—The district will conduct a five-day ecosystem investigation workshop for third through eighth grade teachers highlighting three of the major ecosystem types in Illinois. The purpose of the workshop is to connect teachers with content and resources to strengthen their curricula dealing with ecosystems.

• $3,455 to Wheaton Park District—Forging partnerships between environmental educators and preschools in suburbia, naturalists will work with approximately 20 preschool teachers and curriculum development professionals to refine the "Wetlands Wonders" program. The goal is to help educate teachers on how to provide nature-based programs in the classroom and at a natural area. The project has the potential to introduce experiential environmental education to as many as 400 preschoolers and their teachers.

Lake Shore Drive Gets Disease Resistant Hybrid Elms

The Chicago Park District has announced the addition of 200 elms to Grant Park, an area considered one of the largest collections of mature American elms with 670 mature trees. The new trees, disease resistant hybrid elms, will parallel Lake Shore Drive from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street on the west side and on the east side from Monroe to Balbo.The $75,000 project replaces elms that were destroyed more than 30 years ago by Dutch elm disease. The Accolade elm, a hardy hybrid of two Asian species, is resistant to the deadly Dutch elm and elms yellows diseases that destroyed tens of thousands of Park District trees and cost many American neighborhoods and parks millions of their trees during the 1960s and 70s. The Park District has been replanting the lost Grant Park elms since 1994 and will have planted 700 trees by the end of 2002.

Oswegoland Buys Two Riverfront Properties

Hudson Crossing Park, in downtown Oswego, just got bigger, now that the Oswegoland Park District has bought two parcels of land along the Fox River. The additional 1.3 acres will allow more public access to the river from the park. And since the area is also at the mouth of Waubonsie Creek, along the west side of North Adams Street, even more waterfront opportunities are in store. CorLands, a nonprofit conservation group, made the purchase possible. It originally bought the land on behalf of the park district last spring. CorLands held the land and leased it to the park district while park district officials assembled funds.

"Prices in this fast-growing area are skyrocketing, and the owner wanted to sell these properties quickly," said Bert Grey, executive director of the Oswegoland Park District. "We didn't have the funds available to buy the land at the time and decided to approach CorLands for help."

In less than 60 days, CorLands secured the $304,500 to acquire the two parcels. Once the park district obtained a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which covered half of the total acquisition cost, the park district could buy the land from CorLands, a 24-year-old nonprofit organization that helps protect land for parks, trails and natural areas in northeastern Illinois for public enjoyment.

A full-color 2003 garden calendar is now available for everyone who enjoys growing plants outdoors. The calendar, available from University of Illinois Extension, includes 10-by 14-inch color photographs for each month of the year. With plenty of space to write various appointments and events, the 2003 calendar is available for $12, plus shipping, from the University of Illinois by calling 800.345.6087.

PARKS & ILLINOIS RECREATION 2002-2003 Editorial Calendar Issue Deadline January/February Retrospective - IAPD's 75th 11/1/02 March/April The Golf Issue 1/2/03 May/June Environment Issue 3/3/03 July/August '03 Illinois' New Government 5/1/03 September/October Technology 7/1/03 November/December Theatre Arts 9/1/03 See the writer's guidelines online from the IAPD and IPRA Web sites, www.ILparks.org or www.il-ipra.org. Click on publications.

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DANNY GLOVER

Most people know him as the older, more cautious partner of the volatile Mel Gibson in Hollywood's Lethal Weapon movies. His most recent role was in the offbeat, critically acclaimed The Royal Tennenbaum's where Glover played a gentle scholar opposite Anjelica Huston. His film and stage credits are numerous. And his television roles have earned Glover many nominations and awards, including an Emmy nomination for his portrayal in TVs highest rated mini-series "Lonesome Dove."

Inspired by his work as a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations, Glover is teaming up with HBO to develop a movie about Rwanda. He is also investigating a project about Toussant L'Overture and the Haitian refugees. In his private life, Danny Glover is an advocate for literacy and the arts. He is an activist for racial equality and social justice. Glover is a recipient of the Marion Anderson Award, which honors artists whose leadership benefits humanity.

Hear Danny Glover speak at the close of the 2003 IAPD/IPRA Conference, Saturday, January 25, 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

AN EVENING AT THE FIELD MUSEUM

THE FIELD MUSEUM

The closing event of the 2003 IAPD/IPRA Conference will be held at one of Chicago's most fascinating venues: The Field Museum. Enjoy a reception in the beautiful Stanley Field Hall on Saturday, January 25 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

We will have exclusive access to the museum for the evening to explore its world-class exhibits including "Underground Adventure," "Inside Ancient Egypt" and "DNA to Dinosaurs."

You don't want to miss this opportunity to see the past and future all in one place!

And special thanks to the Chicago Park District for making our Saturday evening event possible at The Field Museum.

IAPD CELEBRATES 75 YEARS IN 2003

The Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association are proud to recognize the 75th anniversary' of IAPD in the year 2003, with celebrations Starting at the IAPD/IPRA Conference. Join us in Chicago for the kickoff to the IAPD diamond anniversary!

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