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 Frankfort Square Park District Wins the 2007 National Gold Medal Award Of the eight agencies from Illinois that were selected as finalists, only the Frankfort Square Park District walked away with a 2007 National Park and Recreation Association Gold Medal Award. Frankfort Square took the honor in the Class V Division for agencies that serve a population of less than 25,000. The annual award is presented by the NRPA for excellence in park and recreation management. The Frankfort Square Park District achieved finalist status for this award four times over the last five years and this year collected the gold during the annual NRPA Congress held in September in Indianapolis, Indiana. Accepting the award were Executive Director Jim Randall and Ken Blackburn, vice president of the board of commissioners. The Gold Medal honors park and recreation agencies throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, citizen support systems, environmental stewardship and program development. Each agency is judged on its ability to address the needs of those it serves, following a comprehensive assessment of agency goals and accomplishments. Five agencies across the nation are named annually in five categories that are determined by the population served by the agency.  The Frankfort Square Park District brought home the Gold from Indianapolis. The seven other Illinois finalists for 2007 were: Class II (population 100.001 -250.000) Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Peoria Class III (population 50,001 - 100,000) Arlington Heights Park District Bolingbrook Park District Hoffman Estates Park District Class IV (population 25,001 - 50.000) Elmhurst Park District St. Charles Park District Class V (population less than 25,000) Vernon Hills Park District Illinois Makes a Big Splash at National Congress Frankfort Square's Gold Medal win and Illinois' seven other Gold Medal finalists were not the sole banner carriers for Illinois at the National Recreation and Park Association's annual Congress and Exposition in Indianapolis. The congress proved to be quite the venue for IPRA and IAPD members to excel. Here are some noteworthy moments had by our associations' members: -- Bolingbrook Park District won the Kudos Marketing and Communication Award for Best Overall Communicator (population over 100,000 division). -- Bill McAdam, of the Oswegoland Park District, was named chair-elect of the Great Lakes Regional Council. -- Mike Clark, of the Batavia Park District, was sworn in as president of the American Park and Recreation Society. -- Nicole Boer-Chesak, of the Glendale Heights Park and Recreation Department, received the NRPA Professional Fellowship Award for the Great Lakes Regional Council. -- Steve Wikner, of the Waukegan Park District, won the NRPA 5k Run/Walk at the White River State Park Canal. -- An Illinois foursome won the NRPA golf tournament at Eagle Creek Golf Course (Mike Clark, Batavia Park District; Steve Messerli, Fox Valley Park District; Ted Flickinger, IAPD; Dave Mason, DeKalb Park District). 42 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org Glenview Hires Environmental Education Supervisor and Assistant Golf Course Superintendent  The Glenview Park District has hired Judy Ksiazek as the new environmental education supervisor at Air Station Prairie and the Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center. In addition to overseeing educational programming at those facilities, Ksiazek is developing an environmental management system for the district. Ksiazek holds a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in education with certifications in biology, chemistry and physical science. She has worked at The Grove, a nature preserve and museum owned by the Glenview Park District, for nearly 10 years in animal care, restoration, program instruction, camp supervision, and most recently she has assisted in developing programming at Air Station Prairie. Air Station Prairie is a 32-acre remnant tallgrass prairie and wetland ecosystem located on the former Glenview Naval Air Station property. The site is also home to the Tyner Interpretive Center, a 3,000-square-foot "green" building constructed with recycled materials. It includes a vegetated roof, photovoltaic cells that capture solar energy and a geothermal heating and cooling system. The facility has attained LEED Platinum status, the highest possible designation under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. The new environmental education supervisor position was created following the transfer of operations and management of the prairie property and interpretive center from the Village of Glenview to the park district.  New to the district's Glenview Park Golf Club is assistant superintendent Arne Nordensen. Nordensen began his duties in August and works under the direction of Golf Course Superintendent Rick Wilson. Nordensen has more than 15 years' experience in turf management and has served as assistant golf course superintendent at Four Winds Golf Course in Mundelein and as the golf course superintendent at Legends of Bensenville.  Winnetka Employee Wins Assistant Golf Pro Championship On September 4, Winnetka Golf Club Assistant Golf Professional Chris Happwon the 2007 Illinois PGA Assistant Professional Cham, held at the Skokie Country Club. He posted a tournament low 68 (-3) in the second round and finished with a two-round total of 140 (-2). On a day when only two competitors managed to break par, Happ's opening round score of 72 ( + 1) was the low score of the first round and left him tied with four other participants heading into the second and final round. Hi's total of 140 was three strokes better than the second place finishers. Happ, qualified for the 2007 National Assistants Championship, which was played in late October at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.  Winnetka Promotes Skating Instructor The Winnetka Park District recently promoted Lara Kuechel to skating director at the Winnetka ice Arena. Prior to her promotion, Kuechel was the office manager and a skating instructor, a position she held from 1993 to 1997 and again in 2003 until her acceptance of her new responsibilities. Kuechel began skating in the mid-1970s at the Glenview Ice Center. She participated in freestyle, precision team skating (now "synchro") and ice dancing. Her passion for skating led to a stint as a United Skates Figure Skating silver singles, pairs and dance judge. She is a longtime Skokie Valley Skating Club member and currently is on the club's board of directors. She is a member of Ice-Semble, a professional skating performance group Kuechel received her B.A. degree in communication from Loyola University in 1988. www.ILparks.org November/December 2007 43 Des Plaines Hires Two Facility Supervisors  Heather Burgess is the new facility manager for Des Plaines Park District's Lake Park and Mountain View Adventure Center. Her duties at Lake Park include oversight of the 18-hole, par-three golf course, along with the clubhouse concession operations; corporate outings; a goif league; events programming; waterfront operations; and such special events as the Lake Wonderland Winter Festival and Live at the Lake Summer Entertainment Series. Burgess also manages operations at the Mountain View Adventure Center, including a mini-golf course, batting cages, a BMX bike park, a skate park, concessions and events programming for all areas of Mountain View. Burgess is a graduate of Michigan State University, with a bachelor's degree in parks, recreation and tourism resources. She worked at the Wheeling Park District for six years in facility management and as a lifeguard and was responsible for a staff of 60 as a waterfront supervisor.
Brent Yepson comes to the district as facility supervisor for the Golf Center Des Plaines, which includes a golf practice range and a nine-hole, par-three lighted course. Yepson's duties include assisting with all operations and management at the golf center, including the driving range and course, golf outings, leagues, lessons, special events and contractual agreements. He supervises all part-time and front desk staff, starters, pickers and instructors. Yepson is a recent graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelor's degree in park and recreation management and has just completed an internship with the IPRA as a sports management intern, where he was in charge of coordinating more than 500 volunteers at the 2007 BMW Golf Championship. Yepson also completed an internship with the Hilton Grand Vacations Club and worked at the Princeton Park District as a park supervisor for three years. New Athletic Supervisor for Addison Park District  Kim Erickson joined the Addison Park District as the new athletic supervisor in September. She oversees all youth and adult athletics for the district. Erickson is a graduate of Western Illinois University, where she earned a degree in recreation, park and tourism administration and minored in marketing. Prior to joining the Addison Park District team, she worked at the Worth Park District as a recreation supervisor. Freeport Hires New Athletics Supervisor  Berin Jackson has joined the Freeport Park District as the new athletics supervisor. He oversees all athletics programs for the district, works with affiliate organizations and coordinates several of the district's special events. Jackson is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a B.S. in recreation, parks and tourism administration. He completed an internship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Savanna District Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. IPRA Announces Newly Certified Professionals Bobbi Nance, CPRP, Park District of Oak Park Get Your People and Places in PEOPLE AND PLACES IPRA members and IAPD member-agencies are welcome to submit news to people and places. Stories should be 300 to 500 words and color images should be 300 dpi when reduced to approximately 1 1/2 x 2 inches. E-mai! your items to Rodd Whelpley, IP&R editor, 44 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org |
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