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PEOPLE & PLACES
Donald R. Jessen, president of the Addison Park District Board of Commissioners, spent the week of October 31 through November 5 as a member of a three-person National Recreation and Park Association-appointed team of representatives to Japan as part of a program to exchange ideas on park and recreation management. Members of the National Recreation Association of Japan attended the annual National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress in Indianapolis in September. Jessen's visit was a follow up to that. "We have a great exchange program; they are able to send professionals to our national congress, and we do the same. It is a great way to share ideas, develop international partnerships and form new friendships," said Jessen. Before leaving, Jessen collected a variety of gifts from the Village of Addison, the Addison Library, the Addison Park District and the IAPD as a way to showcase the work of those agencies. Jessen has been an active member of IAPD and NRPA for more than 25 years. IN MEMORIAM Michael Pauly, Landscape Architect at the Rockford Park District  Michael Pauly designed the indoor playground at the Cherryvale Mall, Photo by Leon Gray Rockford Park District Landscape Architect Michael Pauly died Saturday, November 10, 2007 after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident. Pauly designed more than 70 neighborhood playgrounds in his nearly 12 years at the district. Tim Dimke, executive director of the Rockford Park District, called Pauly "a sensitive person who always thought of others. He was very creative and imaginative, a guy we are going to miss deeply." Pauly spent part of the morning he died working on a new playground in southwest Rockford. "Mike was very dedicated to his work. He loved what he did," said Jim Reid, the district's deputy director of capital planning. "How many times do any of us have the chance to love what we do for a living?" "Mike was really a kid at heart himself and liked to have fun," Dimke said, "and it came out in his work. He understood kids and play and the value of it." Barrington Wins Governor's Award A project of the Barrington Park District and the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association earned first place in the Parks and Recreation category of the Governor's Home Town Awards.  IAPD President and CEO Ted Flickinger, These awards are given to people across the state who have worked to improve the communities in which they live. Forty projects were recognized at a ceremony in Springfield in November. Barrington was honored for the construction of the Pepper Family Accessible Treehouse. The structure features 200 feet of winding ramps leading to two open-air decks, a gazebo and an enclosed cabin with electricity. The 2,000-square-foot facility is perfect for star gazing, birthday parties and other imaginative programming. The project was underwritten by a $230,000 challenge grant from the Pepper Family Foundation of Barrington. The Northern Illinois Special Recreation Foundation and the Barrington Park District worked hand in hand to raise more than $475,000 to fund this project. In a written release announcing the winners, a spokesperson for the governor's office said "the Pepper Family Treehouse and this community will be a benchmark for future projects relying on volunteers." 34 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org PEOPLE & PLACES
 NEDSRA Manager Receives Commitment to Excellence Award
Ann Roytek, manager of inclusion and support staff for the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA), received the Commitment of Excellence Award from the UPS for Downs Association at a formal banquet hosted by the association in October. A crowd of 400 guests attended the event, including her family from central Illinois. UPS for Downs Association includes parents and professionals who advocate for the advancement of individuals with Down syndrome. Roytek was nominated by the family of one of NEDSRA's Special Olympics golfers. The award is presented to an individual who enriches the lives of people with Down syndrome through gifts of time and talent. Roytek started with NEDSRA in October 1998. She received her B.S. in therapeutic recreation from Southern Illinois University in 1980, after completing her internship at the Treatment and Learning Center in Mattoon. Roytek started working as a volunteer in the Illinois Special Olympics program in 1976, and became a certified coach in five sports.She was chosen to be a head coach in two World Special Olympics Games in 1983 and 1987. She continues her involvement in Special Olympics as NEDSRA's Golf Coach. Frankfort Sculptures Honor Mayor and Congressman The Frankfort Preservation Foundation recently dedicated two busts in honor of public servants at the Frankfort Park District's Preservation Park sculpture garden. The sculptures recognized the careers of former Frankfort Mayor George C. Sangmeister and his son, retired Congressman George E. Sangmeister. The congressman spoke before the dedication of his father's bust, but was unaware until after the first unveiling that the foundation was recognizing him as well. The ceremony was one of the last public events Congressman Sangmeister attended before he passed away on October 7, 2007. At the May 2007 dedication ceremony, various dignitaries who worked with the retired congressman paid tribute to him. Speakers included State Senator A.J. Wilhelmi, State Representative Renee Kosel, Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Congressman William Lipinski and Director of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Roseann Santore. Sculptor Dante DiBartolo of Friends for Community Public Art in Joliet designed both busts. The sculptures of Congressman Sangmeister and his father, the former mayor, sit in the southwest corner of the Preservation Park Sculpture Garden at the Frankfort Park District Founders Center.  Retired Congressman George Sangmeister, accompanied  NISRA Superintendent Going a New Direction Shelley Zuniga is resigning from her position as Superintendent of Program Development at the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association at the end of January. Zuniga began her career in 1983 as an intern at West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA). She was hired at the conclusion of her internship and worked as a recreation specialist at WSSRA for three years before taking a position as a program coordinator, and later a manager, at the Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA). Zuniga oversaw the association's summer day camp program at multiple sites serving more than 250 children with disabilities. She also supervised full-time staff and coordinated the annual training calendar. After 10 years at NWSRA, she became the superintendent at NISRA, where she has supervised full-time staff, served as safety coordinator and overseen the development of programs and expansion of transportation as NISRA has grown from nine member districts to 13. Zuniga's professional involvement has included serving on numerous committees and boards, most notably as the president of the Special Recreation Associations of Northern Illinois (SRANI) and as the director of the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section (ITRS). She was instrumental in the initiative to bring SRANI under the governance of ITRS. Zuniga also helped to launch the Adventure, ETC program for youth-at-risk, a cooperative program among the special recreation associations. ITRS honored her with the 2006 Special Recognition Award for her efforts. Zuniga has presented sessions for numerous college classrooms, as well as local and state conferences and the NRPA Congress. www.ILparks.org December/January 2008 35 Fox Valley Granted Funds for Bike Trail  A gap in the Fox River Trail that waylays bicyclists in downtown Aurora is another step closer to being filled with the announcement that the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) has approved the Fox Valley Park District's request for a $600,000 grant for trail engineering and construction. CMAP announced the selections for fiscal year 2008 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grants in December. Jeff Palmquist, director of planning, development and grants for the park district, said work on the project should begin in 2008. The park district, City of Aurora and the Forest Preserve District of Kane County have agreed to share in the $1.7 million cost of constructing sections of the trail gap that are not being funded through state grants. In 1995, the forest preserve district was awarded a $583,000 Illinois Transportation Enhancements Program (ITEP) grant for engineering and partial construction of the trail from the park district's Virgil Gilman Trail to the south end of the city of Aurora's proposed Fox Walk, but the trails do not connect, and currently bicyclists must pedal through traffic in downtown Aurora. The Aurora gap is the major break that remains in the Fox River Bicycle Trail that runs from Oswego to Wisconsin. Champaign Hires Director of Finance  The Chanpaign Park District hired Jan Plotner as its new director of finance in October. Plotner joined the park district after 16 years at the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, where she was the deputy director and financial director. She brings to the job extensive experience in financial and personnel operations. At the park district, she not only oversees day-to-day personnel and finance duties, but she also is responsible for overall financial planning and the creation and administration of the yearly working budget. Plotner received her B.S. in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is an active member of the IPRA and the NRPA. Collinsville Hires New Superintendent of Recreation  Rick Robbins is the new Superintendent of Recreation for the Collinsville Area Recreation District. He oversees the recreation division and its facilities, including Splash City Family Waterpark, Willoughby Farm, the CARD Activity Center and a historic theatre. Robbins, a graduate of Southern Illinois University, spent the previous 17 years with the Peoria Park District supervising its athletics department. Prior to his tenure with Peoria, he worked for the City of Sunnyvale, California and for the Park District of Highland Park. Robbins is a member of IPRA and NRPA and has served on numerous IPRA and affiliate boards and committees.
  Paul Fyle recently joined the Downers Grove Park District's parks division as the new landscape architect. Fyle earned his undergraduate degree in community planning from Missouri State University. He received his masters of landscape architecture degree from the University of Illinois and recently became a registered landscape architect with the state of Illinois. Fyle has spent the last five years working for a park planning and landscape architecture firm in Chicago. Mary Jandacek works as a bookkeeper in the district's administration division. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota. She recently received her accounting certification from the College of DuPage. Jandacek spent 10 years with the Chicago Board Options Exchange's computer systems department and five years as an accountant with the Indian Boundary YMCA. 36 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org PEOPLE & PLACES
Morton Grove Hires One Facility Supervisor, Promotes Another   The Morton Grove Park District recently hired Betsy Brown as a facility supervisor. In her new position, she is responsible for two outdoor pools, facility rentals, teen programs and community special events. Brown interned at the Fox Valley Park District and worked for a year and a half at the St. Charles Park District. She is a Western Illinois University graduate with a B.S. in recreation, park and tourism administration. She is a certified American Red Cross Water Safety, First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor; an Ellis & Associates Lifeguard Instructor; and she holds food and sanitation and C.P.O. licenses. Brian Glure, CPRP has recently been promoted to assistant facility manager. Glure began at Morton Grove as an intern and then was hired as the athletic supervisor. In 2005, he moved to facility supervisor in charge of the park district's 5,000-square-foot Club Fitness and Prairie View Community Center. His promotion to assistant facility manager adds aquatic facilities to his responsibilities. Glure is a graduate of Western Illinois University. He recently received his C.P.O. certification. Arlington Heights Hires New Recreation Supervisor and Assistant Tennis Club Manager  Amy Kopecky joined the Arlington Heights Park District in November as the new recreation supervisor of Heritage Park. Kopecky has worked part time for the Park Ridge Park District and interned with the American Camping Association of Illinois. She holds a degree in recreation parks and tourism administration with a minor in marketing from Western Illinois University. Along with her responsibilities at Heritage Park, she is focusing on expanding the district's general interest youth and adult programming and is developing new special events. Rob Laue has joined Heritage Tennis Club as its assistant manager, where he helps to ensure that the club operates smoothly. His job also includes planning and implementing the Arlington Heights Park District's summer tennis program. Before joining the Arlington Heights Park District, Laue was a facility coordinator at the Schaumburg Park District. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in leisure studies. 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-mail your items to Rodd Whelpley, IP&R editor, at rwhelpley@ILparks.org. www.ILparks.org December/January 2008 37
Oak Brook Hires Special Events Recreation Supervisor and Graphic Designer
Stephens has a bachelor's degree in recreation management from Illinois State University. He has interned for the Heartland Theatre Company in Normal, the Bloomington Park and Recreation department and the First Tee of Pasadena, California. He also volunteered as a supervisor for the Rose Bowl Parade in 2006 and 2007. Brianne Giltner has joined the district as the graphics designer. Her main responsibilities include graphic design for tri-folds, print materials and advertisements for newspapers and magazines. She earned her bachelor's degree in graphic design and photography from Western State College in Colorado. Previously, she interned at the publications office at Western State and at Tom Stillo Photography, LTD. Bolingbrook Hires Fitness Manager  Bolingbrook Park District recently hired Kristin Ehler, CPRP, as fitness manager of Lifestyles Fitness Center & Spa. She oversees operations of two fitness center locations and the indoor climbing wall. She comes to the district from Anytime Fitness of Oswego, where she was in charge of the day-to-day operations of the private fitness facility. She also has held several fitness director positions in the health and fitness industry, including at the Five Seasons Country Club in Burr Ridge and at the Palos Olympic Health and Racquet Club in Palos Hills. Ehler has a bachelor's degree in recreation administration from the University of St. Francis. She has various certifications in the fitness industry as a personal trainer, weight-management consultant and as a cycle instructor. IPRA Announces Newly Certified Professionals David E. Mohr, Jr., CPRR Colleen S. O'Conneil, CPRP Anne E. Rubocki, CPRP, 38 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org IAPD ASSOCIATE MEMBERS AMERESCO, INC, ANCEL, GLiNK, DIAMOND, BUSH, DICIANNI & KRAFTHEFER, P.C. AQUA PURE ENTERPRISES, INC. ARCON ASSOCIATES INC. ARLINGTON POWER EQUIPMENT, INC. BARCLAY & ASSOCIATES BERNARDI SECURITIES, INC. BONESTROO, DEVERY & ASSOCIATES BROOKS, ADAMS & TARULIS BURNHAM & FLOWER AGENCY OF ILLINOIS, INC. BURNIDGE, CASSELL & ASSOCIATES, INC. CALL ONE CHAPMAN & CUTLER, ATTORNEYS CHEVRON ENERGY SOLUTIONS ECONOMICS RESEARCH ASSOCIATES ENERGY SYSTEMS GROUP FRIEDMAN & HOLTZ, P.C. Charlene L. Holtz GEWALT-HAMILTON ASSOCIATES, INC. GILFILLAN CALLAHAN NELSON ARCHITECTS GREEN ASSOCIATES, INC. HALOGEN SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. HDC ENGINEERING LLC HERVAS, CONDON & BERSANI, P.C. HITCHCOCK DESIGN GROUP www.ILparks.org December/January 2008 41 IAPD ASSOCIATE MEMBERS HODGES, LOIZZI, EISENHAMMER, RODICK & KOHN HUTCHINSON, SHOCKEY, ERLEY & COMPANY ICE MILLER LLP ILLINOIS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD JJR, LLC KUBIESA, SPIROFF, GOSSELAR, ACKER & DeBIASIO, P.C. LAMP INCORPORATED McGINTY BROS,, INC, MESIROW FINANCIAL, INC, MIDWEST EQUIPMENT COMPANY Corporation for OPENLANDS PFM ASSET MANAGEMENT PHN ARCHITECTS PLANNING RESOURCES, INC. ROBERT W. BAIRD & COMPANY SENTE RUBEL BOSMAN LEE ARCHITECTS SIKICH GROUP, LLC SPEER FINANCIAL, INC. STS CONSULTANTS, LTD. THOMPSON DYKE & ASSOCIATES, LTD. THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND WILLIAMS ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS, LTD. WRD ENVIRONMENTAL W-T ENGINEERING, INC. 42 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org IPRA COMMERCIAL MEMBERS ACTION PRINTING ADOLPH KIEFER & ASSOCIATES ADVANCED GROUND CARE PRODUCTS, LLC AEK COMPUTERS ALL INCLUSIVE RECREATION AMERESCO, INC. ANCEL, GUNK, DIAMOND, BUSH, DICIANNI & KRAFTHEFER P.C. ARCON ASSOCIATES, INC. AT ASSOCIATES, INC. BERNS, CLANCY & ASSOCIATES, P.C. BURBACH AQUATICS, INC. BURNRIDGE, CASSELL AND ASSOCIATES, INC. CEDAR FOREST PRODUCTS CHARTER ONE BANK Mr. Sean P. Durkin CHOICE ONE MORTGAGE CIMCO COMMUNICATIONS CORDOGAN, CLARK & ASSOCIATES, COUNTRY MANSION CROWN TROPHY, #116 Design Perspectives, INC EHLERS AND ASSOCIATES, INC. FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS FITZGERALD LIGHTING FLUORECYCLE, INC. GLI, INC GOLD MEDAL-CHICAGO GREAT LAKES LANDSCAPE CO., INC. GREEN-UP LANDSCAPE, INC GROUP SALES UNLIMITED, INC. HARRIS N.A. PUBLIC FINANCE HEY AND ASSOCIATES, INC. www.ILparks.org December/January 2008 43 IPRA COMMERCIAL MEMBERS HITCHCOCK DESIGN GROUP ILLINOIS AT PLAY J.E.M. MORRIS CONSTRUCTION, KENDALL HILL NURSERY, INC THE KENNETH CO, Kl FURNITURE LAKE GENEVA CRUISE LINE THE LAKOTA GROUP LAMP INCORPORATED LAUTERBACK & AMEN, LLP MB FINANCIAL BANK MELROSE PYROTECHNICS, INC. MESIROW FINANCIAL Walter Stock MIDWEST SALES COMPANY NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMAPNY NICERINK NORTHSTAR PUBLISHING, INC. OUTDOOR CREATIVE CONCEPTS PALATINE OIL COMPANY, INC. PARK SUPPLY DIRECT, INC. PAUL W. AMUNDSEN, INC PHN ARCHITECTS PIZZO & ASSOCIATES, LTD. PLANNING RESOURCES, INC, PLAY-N-SCAPE, INC. THE PRINTING SYSTEM PROS CONSULTING, LLC RAINBOW FARMS ENTERPRISES RATIO ARCHITECTS, INC. RILEY CONSTRUCTION CO., INC SAFARI LAND Carole A. Shah THE SIDWELL COMPANY 44 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org IPRA COMMERCIAL MEMBERS SINGLE PATH, LLC SPEER FINANCIAL, INC. SRBL ARCHITECTS SUNDEK OF ILLINOIS, INC. TEAM REIL John W. Cederlund TECHNOGYM TEMCO MACHINERY, INC. USTA/MIDWEST SECTION VERMONT SYSTEMS, INC. VISUAL IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY WATER TECHNOLOGY, INC. WEBSTER, MCGRATH & AHLBERG, LTD. WIGHT & COMPANY WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS, LTD. W-T ENGINEERING, INC. ZENON COMPANY www.ILparks.org D e c e m b e r / J a n u a r y 2008 45 |Home|
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Addison Commissioner Takes Part in International Parks Exchange Program
Greg Stephens has joined the Oak Brook Park District as the recreation supervisor of special events. His responsibilities include implementing new events for the district, as well as maintaining and growing the current events and programs.
