"the Plight of the Small Park District"

THE UNSTAFFED AGENCY

by Mrs. Joan M. Simon, Secretary Bridgeview Park District

Brideview is a village of approximately 11,000 people with an anticipated population of 18,000 by 1975. The village is about 5 square miles in area, although our Park District does not encompass all of this. At the time we were organized in October of 1965, three different sections were already included in other park districts. Because some industry was included in the other districts, our income was low from the very beginning.

Our assessed evaluation is $23,000,000 and we levy at .12, which gives us a working budget as of last year of about $30,000 on which to operate.

Immediately after having formed our park district, we hired a consulting firm to complete a master plan survey of the village and park boundaries. Because of their recommendations that we purchase a total of approximately 77 acres in several sites throughout the village, we held an election asking the people for $400,000 with which to purchase this property. It passed overwhelmingly. We also applied to the federal government for matching funds under the Open Space Act.

Following this, we acquired a private residence through negotiations, which was transformed into an Administration Building. We have offices, meeting rooms, public washrooms and a small kitchen. At this point, we considered hiring a superintendent or program director, but rejected the idea because of our income. If you have to pay 1/3 of your total levy for a supervisor, it leaves him very little with which to maintain several parks as well as offering programs. Therefore we decided to continue operating as we had been with our "DO IT YOURSELF" type of operation.

Our staff consists of myself, and several part-time workers. We have no full-time help.

Under the conditions already mentioned, we have managed to operate a summer program for the past three years and a winter program for the past three years. We also just finished installing five playground areas.

Our program offerings have included a day camp program using three schools in the area; craft classes, such as ceramics, leatherwork, celluclay, wood working and art foam creations; field trips (which we found most undesirable) and swimming.

The winter offerings have included knitting, square dancing, baby-sitting clinic, garden club, investment club, women's slim and trim class, and a drama club.

Our building is also used by many other groups and organizations such as, girl scouts, library board, baseball groups and mother's clubs.

We service 100 children per week in our preschool program and have one of the best operating teen groups anywhere.

How can we do this with no full-time help? We beg a lot, borrow and requisition whenever possible, and most important, we have one of the best and most hard working group of commissioners you will find in existence. We also have a very exceptional attorney whom we rely on a great deal.

Our commissioners have donated not hundreds, but thousands of hours remodeling our building, grading, leveling, putting in playgrounds, repairing equipment and you name it, they have done it.

We recruit our part-time help from the village. Male workers usually work evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. Our program people, such as craft instructors and pre-school teachers, are also local people. We have found that the best place to look for instructors are your local scout troops, baseball leagues, PTA and other such organizations. Former den mothers, scout leaders, Sunday school teachers and school teachers who are busy having a family and wishing only part-time employment, make wonderful instructors. They are usually very talented, enthusiastic and willing to work for a smaller salary than a professional.

We have hired at different times, two male

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 July/August, 1974

school teachers to act as Program Director and Co-Ordinator for our summer and winter season. This was also on a part-time basis. The board felt that this could take some of the pressure off of them and myself.

Our pre-school program is supervised by myself. We have four classes per week with 25 children in each. I have four teachers using two for the morning and two for the afternoon. The pre-school and other winter programs are self-supporting. If we find they do not sustain themselves financially, we drop the class.

Our teen council is also self-supporting and governed completely by the Teens. There are four adults who act as advisors only. They run dances every other week and have sponsored a hayride and band battles on different occasions. Last January, the teens raised $1,000 in one day which they donated to the March of Dimes.

The best source for help and ideas that I can suggest is from other park districts. Pick up your phone and call a neighbor park district and you'll find all the help you need. Attend meetings whenever possible, visit other park districts, view their facilities and playgrounds, pick up brochures and pamphlets and above all, ASK QUESTIONS . . . Park people are the most helpful and friendly people in the world. They don't mind if you borrow their ideas and programs, because someday you might have one to share with them.

You might possibly obtain their old equipment as they replace it, which if you have none, can be a God-send, until someday you can afford your own.

The most important assets necessary for this type of operation are ... a GOOD sense of Humor, a Thick Skin (for all the complainers), Lots of Enthusiasm and a Lot of Free Time to Donate.

I realize I haven't covered everything that could be helpful to you in such a short time, but I feel the best way to help you is as I stated earlier, ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 July/August, 1974