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Quincy Park District Receives Citation From Magazine

Quincy's river parks and recreational facilities were the focus of attention Wednesday, March 25, 1970 at the formal presentation of an award from "The American City" magazine to the Quincy Park District.

Specifically, the citation was "for creatively turning an otherwise inaccessible island (Quinsippi Island) into an unusual park, and for devising the means of access to that park through the innovative use of a skyride, a narrow railroad and an excursion boat."

Checks from the Quincy Herald-Whig and WGEM radio-television were presented to the district. Totaling, $3,000, the contributions will be used for the downpayment on the old CB&Q stockyards, which the park disrict is purchasing with plans for a new riverfront park. A contribution of $1,000 for the purchase of playground equipment for Progress Park was given by the Quincy Junior Federated Women's Club.

Curtis Buttenheim, publisher of "The American City," presented the award of merit to President Robert Bangert of the board of commissioners of the Quincy Park District. Buttenheim said the award was to recognize "loyalty, dedication and hard work" on the part of municipal officials during a time when they are confronted with urban distress.

Before making the presentation he read a letter from William S. Foster, editor of the magazine, which said in part, "For as long as people like to recall, we have heard it said that a democatic government responding to the needs of the people served cannot at the same time be innovative and efficient. We at 'The American City' magazine have been in the business of proving this theory wrong."

"The American City" is a trade magazine that goes to over 40,000 city officials and employees throughout the U.S.

The citation declared the Quinsippi Island project is "of use and interest to other municipalities that improves the efficiency, service and usefulness of these local governments within the framework of a free democratic society."

Joe Bonansinga, master of ceremonies for the program, traced the community spirit that led to this and other awards back to the original planning meeting May 11, 1962, a year before Quincy became an All-American City.

Charles M. Mitchell, who came with Buttenheim from the magazine's Pittsfield, Mass., office, presented individual gifts to Bangert, Mayor Don Nicholson and Ken Kramer, Director-Secretary

Illinois Parks 92 May/ June 1970


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Curtis R. Buttenheim, Publisher of THE AMERICAN CITY MAGAZINE, is shown presenting an award for outstanding leadership in Parks and Recreation to Robert H. Bangert, President of the Quincy Park District.

of the Park District. Kramer's gift was a mounted reproduction of the article, "By Air, Rail or Water to an Island Park," which he wrote for the April, 1969, edition of the magazine.

Kramer said the state will improve Sid Simpson Park at a cost of about $78,000 before turning it over to Quincy. Another announcement concerned the move of the Erroke Indian Museum to Quinsippi Island.

The Quinsippi canal, said Bonansinga referring to the bay cut-through, was included on the route of the Quinsippi Queen when the island facilities began operating Sunday, March 29, 1970. "This is another example of new beauty brought about again by community work," Bonansinga said.
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Charles M. Mitchell, General Manager of THE AMERICAN CITY MAGAZINE presents a plague with a reproduction of the article written by Ken W. Kramer, Director Secretary of the Quincy Park District, to Mr. Kramer.

Park district dignitaries introduced by Bonansinga included G. Arthur Keller, Robert Mays and Don Kesler, commissioners; Pat Bruce, treasurer; William H. Klingner, engineer and Charles E. Binkert, attorney.

Also introduced were persons who have made major contributions to the park program including former Mayor Wes Olson; Thomas A. Oakley, general manager of The Quincy Herald-Whig; Mrs. Mac Irwin, who recently donated an historic carousel for All-America Park. and Mrs. Milton Pugh, president of the Quincy Junior Federated Women's Club.

Illinois Parks 93 May/ June 1970


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