First Regional Meeting Big Success

By
Tom Lawson
Commissioner
Glen Ellyn Park District

In Du Page County, which has 29 park districts, 4 recreation commissions and one forest preserve district, the need for a regional organization to help provide information and communications has been recognized.

Last October the first regional meeting of park districts and other special park and recreation districts in Du Page County met. The program included six of the eight state legislators from Du Page County; Eugene Berghoff of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, along with Robert A. Stuart, Legal and Legislative Counsel for the Illinois Association of Park Districts. Each spoke on various subjects related either directly or indirectly to parks and recreation in Illinois.

For many, perhaps most, of the park district commissioners present, it was the first time they had met their State legislators. More importantly, for some of the legislators, it was the first time they had heard enough to really understand the history and functions of park districts. Most important of all, the legislators agreed that they would welcome more communications from commissioners. It is not possible for them to study every bill in detail. They realize that when another elected official recommends a bill, he's doing it because he believes it will help his constituents, not just for personal preference or gain as is often the case when a less knowledgeable and perhaps less concerned citizen calls or writes. In a personal meeting between park district commissioners and their legislators such as the Du Page County meeting, the legislators sensed the dedication of the commissioners.

Following the program, the commissioners, staffs, legislators and other speakers joined in a mixer where all had an opportunity to meet and talk on an informal basis.

The Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners and Staff served as host for the meeting.

In February, the second regional meeting was held in Naperville with the Naperville Staff and Board serving as host. More such meetings are planned in the future for the newly created Du Page County Park and Recreation organization.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 May/June, 1972