July/August 2003 | 19

" I saw some things I wanted to change
and be a part of."

What possesses a teenager to run for park board?

"I wanted to get involved in public service," says Allen. "And I wanted to get more involved in the community. And I thought since I had always used the park district facilities and enjoyed the land and the open space they provided, I thought it would be a good place to start. I saw some things I wanted to change and be a part of."

Established in 1986, the Bourbonnais Township Park District in Kankakee County is slightly younger than its junior board member. It serves approximately 34,000 people in the combined villages of Bourbonnais and Bradley, as well as portions of the small community of St. George. The district consists of three parks comprising more than 300 acres. But most of the district's activities focus on Perry Park, a farmstead that was bequeathed to the State of Illinois in 1961.

The state awarded the Perry Farm property, with its 19th century buildings and barns to the district the year it was established. Since then, the park district has restored the farmhouse and is in the process of refurbishing the main barn. The pastures are subdivided to house turkeys, ducks, geese, chickens, miniature horses and a couple of donkeys. The district even leases some of the animals.

Allen says he most enjoys walking the park district's bike trails along the Kankakee River. But he's also good at walking the precincts. The Olivet Nazarene political science major had worked on campaigns before, so he had an idea of what it would take to win a contested election. He filed the initial paperwork to get on the ballot, made up some plywood signs and held a fund-raiser.

"After that it was just going door to door. That was the most important part. I covered the whole township. Some people were surprised that I was actually old enough to run," he admits with a smile. "But I think people were glad to see that younger people were getting involved in the process and that I wanted the position and I was willing to go out and work for something I really wanted."

The work and the walking paid off. On election night, he garnered more than 1,400 votes, enough to come in second in a four-way race for two spots on the board. His margin of victory was 180 votes.

But Allen wasn't just in the race to win. He's a man of his convictions who is ready to serve. Just months into his term, he has already attended the LAPD-sponsored Parks Day at the Capitol and a New Commissioner Seminar in Downer's Grove. Back in the boardroom, he's cast his first dissenting vote. At issue was whether the park district should follow its master plan and take the first steps toward developing Whispering Willows, a park a few miles from Bradley. The majority of the board said yes, but Allen voted no.

"That happened to be one of the issues he campaigned on," says fellow board member Karen McClure, who won her third term as a board commissioner last April.

20 | Illinois Parks and Recreation

Indeed the issue was part of Allen's platform. He wished to postpone development because he felt the park was too far away from the current village boundaries to be of high priority to the park district and the public.

"I want to wait to develop that land until the area grows more in that direction, which really shouldn't be too long. If the area expands out in that direction, then I think we'll have a better idea about what facilities are needed." So, he says, he felt no qualms about casting his vote. "I think I was elected for a reason. And I think the people elected me on the issues. I believe I need to deliver on my promise. "

It's that kind of honesty that is earning him the respect of those involved with the Bourbonnais Township Park District. "I look forward to working with him," says McClure. "Anyone who comes onto a board will bring fresh ideas and a fresh perspective to the park district, and that's always welcome."

"He's mature beyond his years," adds Vince Castellanoz, the district's executive director. "He knows what he wants and what direction he wants to go, and he sees serving on the board as something that keeps him pointed in that direction. I don't think he's come in with any particular agenda. I think what he's come in with is basically wanting to: one, get the experience; and two, make a contribution to his community. And he felt that he was capable of that in terms of representing his constituency. And I'll tell you what, it's often a thankless job for no pay. And sometimes you get some of the worst grief in the world. Other times, the job is it's own reward."

And even though Allen is a relatively young commissioner, he already seems to understand Castellanoz's point. "You can feel you are making a difference when you can go and see the parks, see the people walking on the trails, see the children and how they enjoy the program," he says. "It makes it all worthwhile."

July/August 2003 | 21