A. L. "Buck" Knowles

Macomb on the Move

Radio station WKAI in Macomb tapes a daily five minute program, "Macomb on the Move", featuring interviews with people involved in the many construction and expansion projects in the community. A. L. "Buck" Knowles, Director of Parks and Recreation, is probably interviewed more often than anyone else because the Macomb Park District is really on the move.

Knowles took charge at Macomb in April of 1966 as Superintendent of Parks after having served as a commissioner for seven years. With a wide variety of experience, including teacher, coach, office manager, manufacturing supervisor, athletic official, and a farm background, the 1947 graduate of Western Illinois University became Macomb's first full-time superintendent. The district was created in 1947 and operated for almost twenty years using part-time maintenance employees.

Macomb Park District in 1966 consisted of four parks with a total acreage of 56. The park board then leased Everly Park, a 37-acre tract located adjacent to Macomb's largest and busiest park, Glenwood. Everly Park had previously been administered and maintained by a board of trustees appointed by the court, under the terms of a will. Presently, the park board, in cooperation with Macomb city officials, is attempting to purchase approximately 400 acres of land adjacent to Spring-Lake, Macomb's water supply. The lake, located two miles northwest of the city limits, was recently enlarged from 60 to 300 acres. The park district applied for a $100,000 grant from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, through the Illinois Department of Conservation, to help finance this project, and received approval. To date, the park board has acquired only 80 acres but hopes to complete the acquisition this year. Tentative plans for this area include a golf course, camping and picnicking, and winter sports area.

The owner of one of Macomb's many new sub-divisions recently deeded a 5-acre tract to the park district which should be ready for use by the summer of 1971. The park board also recently purchased a 7-acre tract adjacent to an elementary school at the east edge of Macomb which will probably be the site for the construction of a badly needed lighted baseball park within the next few years.

In the summer of 1969, the park board presented the Macomb community with three lighted tennis courts, the only courts in the city outside of Western Illinois University. They were constructed near the downtown area on property leased from the YMCA and next to the Y's future building site. More courts are in the planning stage for other areas of the city.

The park district issued $155,000 in general obligation bonds in 1969 to cover the cost of the district's land acquisition and tennis court projects. Knowles says, "The Board and I agree that we must acquire land for future park sites as the city grows, even though it may be some time before funds are available to develop these facilities".

Currently under construction is a building at Everly Ball Park which consists of a concession area and toilets on the first floor and two rooms upstairs. One room will be used for storage, public address announcer, and press and radio, while the other will be used for office space by the recreation department. Everly Ball Park has twice been the site for state softball tournaments in recent years.

In 1967, the park board held a referendum for a .05 per cent recreation

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tax that passed by a 3-1 margin, thanks in part to a committee of citizens who helped promote and organize the campaign. Until that time, the YMCA bore the brunt of the recreational load in the community. The park district is now assuming a part of that responsibility and increasing its program every year. Last summer, the district operated a supervised playground program for the first time, and many other activities will be added this summer. Tony Karas, athletic director at Western High School, has been employed to supervise the recreation program for the summer. Tony has had many years of recreational experience in the St. Charles system. Truston Stewart is the manager of the district's large outdoor pool where the spacious sun deck is the site for two teenage dances each week through the summer months. These popular events, which feature live bands from a wide area, attract from 200-400 teenagers from Macomb and surrounding communities at each event.

Macomb's population is now close to 19,000, and, like most other cities with state universities, has really mushroomed in growth the past few years. The enrollment at Western Illinois University is now 12,000 with a predicted registration of 18,000 students by 1975. In addition, new industries such as Bower Bearing and Fleetwood Mobile Homes are constantly being attracted to the community by Macomb's active Chamber of Commerce. "We are projecting our park and recreation plans to serve a community of 50,000 by the year 2,000", Knowles stated. By "we", he referred to the commissioners of the Macomb Park District who are very aware of the changing times and are doing something about it. Dr. John C. Roberts, professor of education at WIU for the past twenty-five years, is the board president. Mrs. Alice Swain, a school teacher and former alderman, is vice president. Other members are Bob Ackley, manager of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce; Dick Land, active in the community's recreational activities and manager of a finance company; and Albert Nail, a retired postal employee and avid camper. Ellis Leighty, a former park commissioner, is the attorney for the board, and Loren Taylor, an instructor at Western High School, has served as secretary-treasurer for many years.

Fraternal and civic organizations in Macomb take an active part in helping the park board financially with a variety of projects. The Jaycees donated $4,000 worth of playground equipment and erected it in Glenwood Park in 1968. Each year, this group provides approximately $500 worth of new equipment. In 1966, the Lions Club constructed a (Continued P. 95)

Illinois Parks 77 May/ June 1970

Macomb on the Move

(From p. 77)

small gauge steam train area in Everly Park and operate it each summer under a concession arrangement with the park board. The Altrusa Club also financed a play area in Patton Park several years ago, and the Women's Club donated funds for landscaping the new tennis court area.

Knowles operates the parks and recreation system on an annual budget of approximately $60,000 which is levied from an assessed valuation of just under $40,000,000. He employs one full time maintenance man and uses high school and university students on a part-time basis as needed. Many of the district's part-time employees are recreation majors who come to Knowles recommended by Dr. Tony Mobley, head of the department at WIU. "These people are exceptionally good help because they are interested in what they are doing and anxious to learn the parks and recreation field through practical experience", says Knowles.

"The Board and I know that our park facilities and program are behind most other communities of comparable size", states Knowles, "but we are catching-up fast and hope to provide the Macomb community with one of the best park systems in the state within a few years".

Yes, Macomb is on the move.

Illinois Parks 95 May/ June 1970