News Briefs

Maple Syrup Time At Lincoln Garden
Jim Matheis, naturalist at Lincoln Memorial Garden, Springfield, explains how to make maple syrup as a crowd of spectators look on. Lincoln Memorial Garden's "Maple Syrup Time" is being held this year from February 19 to March 20.

Watt Urged To Seek Transfer Of Land For Recreation
Secretary of the Interior James G. Watt should recommend the transfer of 14 surplus government properties to state or local park and recreation uses, John H. Davis, Executive Director of the National Park and Recreation Association, stated in a recent news release.

A list of the properties has been submitted to secretary Watt.

Most of the properties are military installations ranging in size from seven to 623 acres. One of the parcels is the 22-acre U.S. Army Reserve Center near Addison, Illinois, which the Addison Park District would like to acquire.

Noting the administration's lack of action on its "assets management" program unveiled a year ago, Davis said, "We are increasingly disturbed with the lack of consideration given to potential public park and recreation values in the (real property) disposal process." Davis pointed out that Secretary Watt had previously promised to seek the transfer of such property to "public park and recreation purposes" if he were apprised of the existence of such parcels of land.

"Race Of The Year" Award For Park Forest Run

The Chicago Area Runners Association, at its annual awards banquet in January, announced that the Park Forest Recreation and Parks Department's annual Scenic Ten Mile Run is the winner of the "Race of the Year" Award for 1982. The race is held on Labor Day.

With a turnout of 1,400 runners, the event was described by Keith Hoizmueller, a CARA official, as "the most competitive field of any race of its class in the midwest." The 1982 Scenic Ten saw the record book rewritten with 12 new course/age-group records and two new Illinois and national records for a ten-mile race.

The race course winds along five miles of county forest preserve bike trails and five miles of residential streets. Dubbed the "Race with the String Quartet in the Woods," it is known for the formally attired string quartet which entertains runners at the five-mile point. Other entertainment also is provided along the route.

Park Districts Invited To Enter "Home Town" Program

Park Districts and other interested organizations are invited to enter the Governor's Home Town Awards Program, a state project that honors outstanding community achievements and recognizes the volunteer work of community organizations and citizens.

Applications for the Program are now available for community projects completed in calendar year

Silhouetted in the shadows of a woodland glen, a string quartet entertains runners participating in Park Forest's annual Scenic Ten Mile Run.

Illinois Parks and Recreation    42     March/April 1983

1982. Projects eligible for the program must reflect a community wide effort in addressing a local goal or need. Applications are available from Sue Ellen Stavrand, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, 222 S. College, Springfield, IL 62706 (phone 217/782-4311). Deadline for applications is March 31, 1983.

According to the DCCA, 93 Illinois communities, with the help of local volunteers, were able to maintain or expand services for their citizens last year. At the same time, more than 6,000 jobs were created or retained.

NRPA Audiovisual Contest Deadline is May 31

Films, slide shows, student productions and other audiovisual programs must be submitted to the National Recreation and Park Association by May 31 for entry in the Wes Francis Audiovisual Excellence (WAVE) Contest.

The national contest was created by NRPA as both a means of stimulating production of audiovisual materials on parks, recreation and related conservation topics and as a method of providing informational materials.

The national contest is open to the mass media, students, park and recreation agencies on all levels of government, manufacturers of park and recreation goods, universities, and professional producers. The contest judges productions of slide shows, public service announcements, videotapes and 16mm films.

Contest applications can be obtained from Martha Nudel, Director of Communications, National Recreation and Park Association, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302, (703) 820-4940.

Winning entries will be announced during the Congress for Recreation and Parks, the nation's largest gathering of park and recreation interests, Oct. 2-6 in Kansas City, MO. A film festival of the winning entries will be held at the same time.

Illinois Parks and Recreation    43     March/April 1983