An overview of park, forest preserve and conservation districts

The Illinois Association of Park Districts recently surveyed more than 300 agencies
to provide a statistical profile of recreational areas and facilities.

By Bill G. Bodine

The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) recently surveyed 342 park, recreation, conservation and forest preserve agencies, and the State Department of Conservation (DOC). The purpose of the survey was to document statistical information which describes these agencies. A total of 240 agencies returned the survey form. However, of this number, only 226 provided all of the statistical information requested for 1985.

Agency profile

The agencies which completed the entire survey listed a combined total assessed valuation of $104.7 billion and a total population served of 40 million. (This includes out-of-State visitors to areas managed by the DOC.) In addition, 171 of the responding agencies reported a combined levy of $239 million. Revenues generated from user fees amounted to $111.2 million, and their collective budgets totalled $676 million. (However, revenues generated from hunting and fishing licenses, and other user fees collected by the DOC, are not included in the total amount of user fees reported here.)

A total of 369,394 land acres and 32,165 water acres were reported as being owned by the agencies, with an additional 97,618 land acres and 43,894 water acres being leased. The agencies also indicated that they own 2,780 buildings and lease an additional 181. (These figures do not include buildings leased or owned by the DOC.)

The total number of park sites reported was 6,003. In addition, there are more than 30 conservation areas and more than 80 nature preserves throughout the State.

The responding agencies indicated the collective employment of 33,233 persons. Of that number, 7,033 are full-time, 13,488 part-time (on a year-round basis) and 12,712 seasonal employees.

Illinois Department of Conservation

The Illinois Department of Conservation (DOC) owns 219,952 acres. Of that amount, 32,165 are acres of water. In addition, the department leases 133,976 acres, 43,894 acres of which are water.

The department employs 1,376 full-time and 151 part-time/seasonal workers to meet the needs at more than 70 State parks, 30 conservation areas and 80 nature preserves statewide. Its current budget is $119 million.

The Chicago Park District

The Chicago Park District reported a total assessed valuation of $14.6 billion and a total levy of more than $144 million. In addition, the district:

• serves over three million persons.

• owns 7,310 acres of land and leases an additional 453 acres.

• owns 255 buildings and leases 32 others.

• maintains 568 park sites.

• employs 2,896 persons. Of this number, 1,402 are full-time, 594 part-time and 900 seasonal employees.

• has a budget of more than $200 million.

Major county information

The 91 agencies which responded from Cook County (excluding the Chicago Park District) had a combined total assessed valuation of $49.5 billion and serve a population of 2,035,463. These agencies also reported a total combined levy of $99.1 million. Their total revenues from user fees was $41.4

Illinois Parks and Recreation 28 May/June 1986

million and they had a combined budget of $170.4 million.

Collectively, they own 75,230 acres of land and lease another 2,052 acres, which constitute a total of 3,381 park sites. In addition, these agencies own 912 buildings and lease an additional 70, and employ 13,629 persons. Of that number, 2,160 work full time; 5,981 part time on a year-round basis, and 5,488 on a seasonal basis.

DuPage County

Twenty-nine DuPage County agencies responded to the survey and reported a total combined assessed valuation of $12.7 billion. They reported a total combined budget of $55 million, with their total combined levy amounting to $36.5 million and total income from user fees amounting to more than $11.9 million. Those agencies also:

• serve a population of more than 1,237,651.

• own 22,171 land acres and lease an additional 1,035 acres.

• own 172 and lease 39 buildings.

• maintain 459 park sites.

• hire 4,195 employees (621 full-time, 2,192 part-time and 1,382 seasonal).

Kane County

Seven agencies responding from Kane County have a total combined assessed valuation of $3.9 billion, and serve a combined population of more than 565,405.

The seven agencies own 6,952 acres of land and lease an additional 377 acres, while they own 115 buildings and lease an additional eight. Together they employ 147 full-time, 865 part-time and 285 seasonal employees to maintain 263 park sites.

They reported a combined total budget of $12.5 million, a total combined levy of $5.7 million and total income from user fees of $5.1 million.

Lake County

Eleven agencies in Lake County responded with a total combined assessed valuation of $6 billion. These agencies also indicated that they serve a population of 653,017.

Combined, they own 15,993 acres of land and 128 buildings, and lease

(Continued on page 30)

Type of Areas and Facilities	Total No. of Areas and Facilities	Responding Agencies by County						Chicago Park District Areas and Facilities
		Cook 91	DuPage 29	Kane 7	Lake 11	Will 12	All Others 89
		Number of Areas & Facilities by County
Swimming Pools	283	101	23	10	9	6	77	57
Tennis Courts	2846	882	309	104	142	69	634	706
Handball/Racquetball	144	54	14	8	3	11	26	28
Historical Buildings	106	19	9	8	8	2	34	26
Museums	85	24	26	4	4	4	18	5
Ice Rinks	575	252	62	21	17	20	50	153
Golf Pro Shops	92	24	9	5	7	4	37	6
Conservatories	16	3	1	1	0	1	8	2
General Purpose Centers	658	169	26	12	15	9	99	328
Senior Centers	137	40	12	3	5	3	24	50
Performing Arts Centers	83	17	2	2	1	1	10	50
Health/Fitness Centers	44	21	5	2	3	2	11	0
Nature Centers	61	21	6	1	5	2	25	1
Arts/Crafts Centers	199	31	4	2	3	6	12	141
Day Care/Preschool Centers	342	74	23	6	13	5	19	202
Jogging Trails	170	53	20	5	20	7	40	25
Bicycle Trails	139	64	15	5	8	5	21	21
Hiking Trails	127	6	10	4	12	11	59	25
Equestrian Trails	26	10	1	0	4	1	10	0
Baseball Fields	1798	624	223	31	34	64	311	511
Softball Fields	1705	580	153	70	96	69	430	307
Football Fields	499	140	62	14	13	16	33	221
Soccer Fields	802	263	89	21	24	33	151	221
Nature Areas	183	28	61	9	13	9	62	1
Zoos	13	1	2	2	0	0	6	2
Golf Courses (9-Hole)	34	8	4	2	2	1	12	5
Golf Courses (18-Hole)	63	18	4	3	4	3	30	1
Nurseries	42	9	8	8	2	1	12	2

Column one is the total areas and facilities reported by all 240 agencies. Subsequent columns
reflect responses from agencies on a county basis and the Chicago Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 29 May/June 1986

Budget Ranges		Number Of Agencies	Percent Of Total
$5,000,001 - 10,000,000		14	8.2%
4,000,001 - 5,000,000		6	3.5%
3,000,001 - 4,000,000		9	5.3%
2,000,001 - 3,000,000		15	8.8%
1,000,001 - 2,000,000		28	16.5%
500,001 - 1,000,000		22	12.9%
400,001- 500,000		11	6.5%
300,001 - 400,000		12	7.1%
200,001 - 300,000		18	10.6%
100,001 - 200,000		19	11.2%
50,001 - 100,000		7	4.1%
10,000 - 50,000		9	5.3%
		170	100.0%

This chart represents the statistics for the ranges of total budgets of 170 park districts in 1985. The majority of these districts have a budget under $3 million, with the actual mean of $1,537,676.

Of the 170 responding park agencies, 42 percent have a budget of more than $1 million, 27 percent have budgets ranging from $300,000 to $1 million, and 31 percent have budgets under $300,000.

137 acres and 14 buildings. In addition, the agencies maintain 175 park sites and employ 250 full-time, 465 part-time and 814 seasonal employees.

They reported a combined total budget of $34.6 million, a combined total levy of $15.8 million and a combined income from user fees of $9.5 million.

Will County

Will County had 12 agencies responding with a combined total assessed valuation of $3.8 billion. These agencies also indicated that they serve a combined population of 550,387.

Combined, they own 6,792 land acres and lease 549 others, while owning 36 buildings and leasing three. The agencies maintain 119 park sites and employ 141 full-time, 542 part-time and 253 seasonal employees.

Their combined total budget was reported at $14.7 million. The combined total levy was $7.6 million while total income from user fees was $3.1 million.

Other counties

A total of 89 additional agencies responded from 47 other counties. Adams, Boone, Christian, Cumberland, Effingham, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Jersey, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Marion, McLean, Monroe, Saline, Sangamon, Warren and Williamson Counties each had one agency responding to the survey.

Responses were received from two agencies in Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Clark, DeKalb, Fayette, Henry, Jackson, JoDaviess, Kankakee, Macon, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Rock Island and Stephenson Counties. Champaign, Montgomery, Tazewell, Whiteside and Winnebago Counties each had three respondents participate in the survey.

Ogle and St. Clair Counties were each represented by four agencies while Madison and McHenry Counties were both represented by six agencies.

These 89 agencies reported a total combined assessed valuation of $14 billion, with a total combined budget of $69.7 million. Their total combined levy was $30 million and total revenue from user fees at more than $19.3 million. They reported serving a population of over 2.5 million.

They collectively own 47,069 acres and lease 2,933 acres of land while owning 1,162 buildings and leasing an additional 15 buildings. These agencies maintain 968 park sites and employ 947 full-time, 2,698 part-time and 3,590 seasonal employees.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bill G. Bodine is the business manager for the Illinois Association of Park Districts.