NEW IPO Logo - by Charles Larry Home Search Browse About IPO Staff Links

Using lumber from dead trees removed from Peoria parks, innovative playground equipment has been provided for children.

GOLD MEDAL
AWARD TO PEORIA

By Frances P. Landen

THE CHALLENGE OF WINNING AN AWARD

THE PEORIA PARK DISTRICT
was one of five districts in the United States receiving Grand Awards for excellence in the field of park and recreation management, presented by The Sports Foundation, Inc., at the National Park and Recreation Congress at Houston last October.

Initiated in 1966, The Sports Foundation's Gold Medal Awards Program is designed to focus national attention on communities of all sizes for their outstanding accomplishments in the development of park and recreation programs and sports activities for their citizens.

Peoria, in the 100,000 to 250,000 population class, was cited for its "excellent balance of physical activities, art, drama, and music—programs for everyone, with particular emphasis on the family. Ecology and conservation were important segments of their activities, with a special program being built around an Environmental Awareness Week. They also showed good imagination and sensitivity with their mobile program, transporting children to good program sites, and their 'Calls from Santa' Christmas activity for children which was coordinated with local senior citizen clubs and a major local manufacturer.

"Their programs for land acquisition and capital expenditures for site development were very impressive."

Submitting the entry and preparing the presentation was, indeed, a challenge. But winning the award presents an even greater challenge for the district.

The Peoria entry was based on the Master Plan for Parks and Recreation 1970 which thoroughly surveyed and evaluated our recreation programs and needs. The Plan set forth these specific recommendations:

1. That new space be acquired or city-owned properties adapted to establish adequate neighborhood parks/playgrounds in all areas of the district.

2. That evaluation be made of existing facilities in relation to the needs and de-
Robert P. Humke (R), superintendent of recreation, Peoria Park District, holds the Grand Award Gold Medal, as David L. Snider (L), assistant superintendent of recreation, receives the Gold Medal flag from Gil Hanesworth (Center), managing director of The Sports Foundation, Inc.

Illinois Parks and Recreation    12    March/April, 1972


Ancient Oaks Day Camp, operated in one of Peoria's undeveloped parks, provided eight weeks of outdoor programming and experiences for Peoria youngsters.

sires of all citizens and, where deficiencies are revealed, plans for corrections made as soon as it is financially possible.

3. That the district move more positively in these major directions:

First, to the neighborhoods for cooperative planning of new programs with the people affected by them.

Second, to mobile recreation facilities in areas where residents are least mobile themselves for social, economic, age, or illness reasons.

Third, to lifetime sports activities in which people may participate alone or with a single opponent all of their lives.

Fourth, to nature/conservation programs.

This presentation in no way claimed that Peoria had solved all local problems. Rather it was based on the premise that they had recognized many of the problems; recommendations for dealing with those problems had been made; and the district making progress in the directions recommended.

The Peoria Park District has achieved an enviable record in land acquisition for park/open holdings. With the assistance of a local philanthropic foundation and federal (Housing and Urban Development, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation) grants, land holdings have increased from 2,500 to 7,200 acres during the past eight years. The Peoria Park District with a per capita rate of $17.78 also ranks high in expenditures for parks and recreation.

Entering the Sports Foundation competition has many residual benefits for any park district. It provides an opportunity for critical self-analysis and evaluation. It also provides an effective tool for interpreting problems and progress to the tax paying public.

The Sports Foundation competition provides an excellent opportunity for building better public relations. The first step requires nomination by a local member of the National Sporting Goods Association. In this case, the Keenan Sporting Goods Company sponsored the Peoria entry. Cooperation with local business firms, directly or indirectly concerned with recreational programs, is imperative for any park system.

Preparing the entry — and winning the award — was an activity of total involvement for all our personnel. Each employee made a definite contribution. In December the district scheduled a recognition night for all employees and presented each one with a certificate commemorating the Gold Medal Award to the Peoria Park District.

The colored slide presentation submitted for the Peoria entry has already been shown to many local groups by the district staff and board. The slide program has also been incorporated into the resource material of the Office of Recreation and Park Resources of the University of Illinois.

In the past, the Peoria Park District has considered entering the Gold Medal competition, but until 1971 lack of time and the overwhelming task of preparing the entry forced the district to set the project aside until another year. This year, the challenge was faced, and all were confident that this was "our year."

"We entered—we won—and we are justly proud!" Now there is another delightful challenge— using the $1,000 check that came with the award. The staff and board are presently studying several suggestions and are determined to inaugurate a new program that will benefit all citizens.

Frances P. Landen is Communications Supervisor for the Peoria Park District.


EDITORS NOTE :

The Sports Foundation selected the Naperville Park District as a finalist in the competition in the Class IV, population 20,000 to 50,000.


Illinois Parks and Recreation    13    March/April, 1972


|Home| |Search| |Back to Periodicals Available| |Table of Contents| |Back to Illinois Parks & Recreation 19721
Illinois Periodicals Online (IPO) is a digital imaging project at the Northern Illinois University Libraries funded by the Illinois State Library