Allows Agencies to Voice Their Concerns to State Lawmakers

The voice of Illinois park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies echoed through the halls of our state's capitol during the Illinois Association of Park Districts' Parks Day at the Capitol, May 3.

Park, recreation and conservation agencies lined the Capitol Rotunda with exhibits showcasing the need to support Illinois parks and recreation and to keep the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) and other funding programs intact. Highlights from lAPD's recent study. The Economic Impact of Parks and Recreation, were shared with legislators, legislative staff and citizens who attended Parks Day.

Most Parks Day participants made appointments with their legislators to personally show them their agency's exhibit and thank them for their support. Among the exhibitors were:

Addison Park District JPAC Barrington Park District Joliet Park District Batavia Park District (1) Lan-Oak Park District Bensenville Park District Lemont Park District Champaign Park District (6) Lisle Park District Chicago Park District (2) Lockport Township Park District Chicago Wilderness Lombard Park District Decatur Park District Manhattan Park District Deerfield Park District New Lenox Park District Elmhurst Park District North Berwyn Park District Park District of Franklin Park Northfield Park District Godley Park District Oak Lawn Park District Gurnee Park District Oswegoland Park District Hanover Park Park District Partners for Parks and Wildlife Hoffman Estates Park District Prospect Heights Park District Hook A Kid on Golf Foundation of Illinois Recreation Access Rockford Park District Illinois Association of Conservation and Forest Preserve Districts Romeoville Recreation Department Schaumburg Park District (3) Illinois Association of Park Districts Skokie Park District Illinois Audubon Society South Suburban Pork & Recreation Association (4) Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources Urbana Park District Illinois Park and Recreation Association Waukegan Park District (5) Wheeling Park District Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Society (ITRS)

14 Illinois Parks and Recreation www.ILipra.org