FROM THE EDITOR
Q: If April showers bring May flowers, what does May bring?
Answer: Many people out to the parks, forests, playgrounds, golf courses and waterparks!
It's that time of year, the calm before the summer storm, when agencies are gearing up for the busiest busy season in parks and recreation. Here's a quick look at some events for the coming months.
May is also "Older Americans Month," and the year 1999 has been designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the "International Year of Older Persons." Organization can celebrate with a Global Embrace Walk on October 2. To plan for this walk, contact IAPD for an information kit or see the website www.un.org/esa.socdev/iyop.
In June, trails step into the scene with National Trails Day on June 5 (see www.americanhiking.org or call 301.565.6704). "Millennium Trails: Connecting America's Communities" is a national initiative that will recognize more than 2,000 trails projects by the Year 2000. Check out the Millennium Trails website at millenniumtrails.org or call 202.366.4045.
July, of course, is Parks & Recreation Month. So many ways to celebrate, so little space to list them all here. For resources, call the National Recreation and Park Associations Northeast Service Center, 703.858.2161.
July 11 -17 is National Therapeutic Recreation Week. With the theme "A Key Piece of the Health Care Puzzle," events for the week highlight the role of therapeutic recreation in todays society. For promotional ideas and merchandise, see www.nrpa.org/branches/ntrs.htm or call 703.858.0784.
August 21 is Park District Conservation Day at the Illinois State Fair, a showcase of talent and volunteerism from park districts and forest preserves. The day promotes parks and recreation to more than 60,000 fairgoers. To get involved, call IAPD, 217.523.4554.
Finally, congratulations to Woodridge Park District and the Geneseo Community Park District, 1999 recipients of the National Recreation and Park Association's Excellence in Aquatics Award for classes VI and V, respectively. To these and Illinois many award-winning public waterparks and swimming pools, best wishes for the season!
ANN LONDRIGAN
4/ Illinois Parks and Recreation
Editor