Park districts participate in Insurance Crisis Day

IAPD Pres. Roger Toohey, commissioner at the Wheaton Park District (above), exchanged views with IPRA Pres.-Elect Robert "Skip' Dunsmuir, director of the Wheaton Park District (bottom, left), and IAPD Pres.-Elect Ralph Cianchetti, commissioner from the Park District of Highland Park. Toohey and Dunsmuir met with Senate Pres. Phil Rock (D-8) and ICIC leaders.

Illinois lawmakers received a personal message about the need for available and affordable liability insurance.

Park, recreation, forest preserve and conservation agencies were among the groups represented at Insurance Crisis Day on April 9 in Springfield.

The group of approximately 3,500 delivered a personal message to State lawmakers about the availability and affordability of liability insurance, and the need for immediate action to resolve the problem this spring.

"The insurance crisis is not an upstate versus downstate, an urban versus rural, or a small district versus large district problem," Ted Flickinger, executive director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), explained.

"We are involved in a statewide crisis that can only be solved with bipartisan support in the Illinois General Assembly," he noted.

"The some 125 representatives from the recreation field who participated in this event spoke on behalf of recreational providers and consumers statewide," he said, "and they delivered our message loudly and clearly.

"We are most grateful for the interest and support which members of both the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) have given to this effort."

Chuck Paxton, director of the Zion Park District, (right) and Carl Hartmann, director of parks and recreation, Vernon Hills Park District, were among the approximately 3,500 persons participating in the rally which was organized by the Illinois Coalition on the Insurance Crisis.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 May/June 1986

Flickinger also indicated that the IAPD is monitoring the proposals introduced by the Illinois Coalition on the Insurance Crisis (ICIC) and all other insurance-related measures. Additional information is presented in the Legal/Legislative News Section of this magazine.

House Republican Leader Lee Daniels (R-46) indicated his support for legislation which would correct the availability and affordability problems now encountered when purchasing or renewing liability insurance.	Governor James Thompson renewed his support for solving the insurance crisis and reminded those attending the rally that they are the key to its solution.
Dave Novak, director of the Park District of Forest Park (left); John McGovern, director of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, and IPRA Pres. George Whitehead, director of the Carbondale Park District, participated in the special briefing prior to the Capitol lobbying effort.	State Rep. Sam Vinson (R-90), seated, and Sen. Aldo DeAngelis (R-40), at podium, emphasized the importance of explaining the scope of the problem to State lawmakers. Both are in the leadership of their respective chambers.
Visiting their State lawmakers were Dir. Chuck Szoke (left) and Commissioner Ron Lehman of the Channahon Park District.	Lemont Park District Dir. Bob Porter (right) and Commissioner Dave Garvey reiterated their insurance concerns to State legislators.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 18 May/June 1986