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By invitation from the Illinois Department on Aging, the IAPD presented "Recreation Comes of Age: Illinois Park District Services and Cooperative Efforts for the New Senior" at the 1994 Governor's Conference for the Aging Network held November 2-4 in Chicago, marking the first time a representative from the field of parks and recreation has been invited to present to this audience the benefits and importance of recreational opportunities for seniors.

Speaking to more than 60 representatives from the Illinois Aging Network, IAPD's Executive Director Ted Flickinger shared the benefits of recreation for seniors and trends that indicate active and cognitively challenging lifestyles are becoming the norm for older adults, especially the "new" seniors who do not want to be called "seniors" at all. Flickinger also shared results from IAPD's recent Senior Services Survey, which provided a statewide picture of the progressive senior programs and services offered by Illinois park districts and forest preserves.

Teresa Grodsky, Senior Center Director for the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District, shared her insider's view of what seniors want during their "golden years" — how they enjoy being active well into their 80s and what innovative programs are offered by the Park Ridge Senior Center to meet their needs and wants. As President-Elect for NRPA's Leisure & Aging Section, Grodsky also shared information about the national efforts for promoting recreational opportunities for seniors.

Ralph Cianchetti, Commissioner for the Park District of Highland Park, added a personal perspective to the program. At age 69, he has definite views about his needs as a senior, emphasizing an active productive lifestyle versus the common emphasis on social service programs. Cianchetti is also very active in AARP and stressed that seniors are dedicated voters, so their needs must be met by park districts and other senior service providers.

Partnerships were highlighted throughout, and Ann Londrigan, IAPD's Marketing Communications Coordinator, kept that the focus through the end of the program with information about the March 23-24 Illinois Leisure and Aging Summit, co-sponsored by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Department on Aging. The Summit will be recognized by the May 1995 White House Conference on Aging and is already considered the first of its kind in the nation, bringing together representatives from the Aging Network and Illinois park districts and forest preserves for a shared purpose — better serving the needs of Illinois seniors.

The Governor's Conference for the Aging Network is the annual conference for senior service providers in Illinois. More than 800 attend each year for educational opportunities, networking and policy-building purposes. The 1994 conference also served as an agenda-builder for Illinois delegates to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging. *

Illinois Parks & Recreation * November/December 1994 * 43