A Profile A profile of IAPD Members and their Boards
Given that change is the only constant in our lives, in this column I share how boards and their agencies are changing in the park and recreation field.
The information provided was culled from two recent surveys conducted by the Illinois Association of Park Districts, which provide us with a "Board/Agency Profile" as well as an assessment of trends affecting park districts.
The Board Member Profile
IAPD believes it is important to keep an eye on the changing demographics of boards. These 2,100 locally elected officials serve without compensation and are responsible for the governing policies of Illinois' 345 park districts, forest preserves, recreation and natural resource agencies, which employ more than 43,000 individuals. This is a tremendous charge.
Here's what we learned about board members this year.
I. Personal Profile
• 72% are male, 28% are female, and these figures have not changed significantly since 1995.
• Age group:
• Ethnic origin:
• 26.34% are high school graduates with about 30% receiving a bachelor s degree or higher degree.
• Occupations vary widely for board members with some notable changes. Board members in the business sector dropped 8 percent, while those in real estate grew by 8.5%. Also increasing were information systems (from 2% to nearly 10%), agriculture and clerical (both increasing from 1% to 9%) and those retired as well as self-employed more than doubled.
Occupations that dropped in representation include trades/labor (down to 7% from 11%), teaching/education (down to 6.6% from 12%), government employees (down to 4.46% from 8%).
• A smaller sampling of board members indicates that their top recreational pursuits in descending order of popularity are golf, walking, hiking, aquatics, boating, fishing, baseball and softball.
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Dr. Ted Flickinger IAPD Executive Director |
II. Terms of Office • 26% of board members serve on 7-member boards (This figure is up from 19% in 1995) • The majority (62.64%) serve a 6-year term, while 29.03% serve a 4-year term and 7.32 % a 5-year term. It's predicted that the 4-year term will become more popular among boards. • Boards are seeing more "freshman" or first-term board members: 37.77% have 1 to 5 years of service; 19%, 6 to 10 years; 6.46%, 11 to 15 years; 7.77% have 16 or more years. (28.4% n/a) • 66% of boards elect a president each year as proscribed by the Park District Code. (The president does not have to change each year, just be elected.) |
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Overall, there is a trend toward 7- member boards and shorter terms, which reflects our more transient society, term limits and a desire to serve a shorter term. |
Agency Profile
I. IAPD Membership
First, overall, it's exciting to report that LAPD's membership is the highest ever, with a 53% increase since 1980. Our 345 members are comprised of 257 park districts, 8 forest preserves, 4 conservation districts, 37 city agencies, the Department of Natural Resources, and 38 associate members in the allied fields of law, finance and landscape/facility design.
II. IAPD Regional Breakdown of Member Agencies
Comparing membership according to region, we've learned that Regions I and III are experiencing the greatest growth. Not surprisingly. Regions I and II comprise nearly half of the membership.
Region I (Chicago-eastern side)
Region II (Chicago-northwest suburbs)
6 / Illinois Parks and Recreation
Region III (Chicago-Lake County
and Freeport)
Region IV (central Illinois)
Region V (southern Illinois)
• 23% of IAPD member agencies responding have anannual budget less than $500,000.
• 63% of agencies have budgets from $500,000 to just under $10 million.
• 14% have budgets that exceed $10 million.
• 76% are not coterminous with the municipality.
• 31.23% of agencies responding have a land/cash donation ordinance.
• The number of agencies with foundations has doubled in four years with 18.94% in 1999.
• More than half (56.81%) provide special recreationservices through special recreation associations (or SRAs).51 agencies do not offer special recreation services.
• 6.31% have unions, compared with 4% four yearsago.
• Growth has been achieved in self-insurance programs:
89 members of the Illinois Park Association Risks Services(IPARKS); 103 members of the Park District Risk Management Association (PDRMA); 51 agencies are members of the Illinois Park Employee Health Network (IPEHN).
• 42% participate in the "Take Time for Fun!"® marketing campaign.
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Findings indicate thatagencies expectpopulation increases(especially amongseniors and minorities,particularly Hispanicand Asian populations)and, thus, increaseddemand for facilities,programs and openspace. |
Trends Affecting Agencies
In July, IAPD distributed a "Board Questionnaire" toassess changes and trends affecting park districts and forest preserves in the next 5 to 10 years. What follows arequestionnaire highlights with 23% responding.
I. Economics
With budget tightening, the tax cap and basic demand greater than available resources, agencies plan touse a variety of sources of revenue in the next 5 to 10years. Among these are higher user fees, foundations,grants, naming rights, out-sourcing services, cooperativeprograms and corporate sponsorships.
II. Demographics
With the senior and Hispanic population boom, agencies expect to increase senior programming (e.g,, health/wellness, volunteering, travel and elder care) and offermultilingual publications, signage, coaching and instructors. As the family make-up changes and more parentswork outside the home, agencies will offer "family programming" geared at evenings and weekends, plus moreday care, before- and after-school and teen programs.
III. Political and Legislative
Overwhelmingly, agencies cited funding as their number one concern in this area. Agencies plan to seek morestate grant money and incentives for public/private cooperatives. They are concerned about state mandates andpromoting more commissioner involvement in the political process. Currently, about 30 percent of IAPD commissioners communicate with their legislators. Also citedwere concerns about high commissioner turnover andinexperience regarding policy matters.
IV. Parks, Facilities, Natural Resources and Programming
Many districts are reporting the need for additionalopen space and a concern for the increased cost of land,particularly in urban areas. Some expect corporate support for open space. Again, funding is the focus withdistricts relying more on user fees, less on taxes; fees orpark land from developers; contracting for specializedservices; facility sharing; privatization where deemed appropriate and cost-effective; development of multipurpose facilities; and leadership in intergovernmental cooperation. Regarding programs, district officials predict moresatellite locations for community recreation centers dueto lack of space in existing facilities and cultural diversity.Bringing programs to the consumer through outreach isalso important. Expected are increases in senior andpre-school programs, junior golf, high-risk and after-school programs.
V. Technology
A major technology change cited is online registration,which will affect staff hours dedicated to this as well assecurity and reliability concerns. Officials expect moremarketing via agency Web sites. Concerns about technology include funding to keep computer equipmentand software current, and being able to afford staff withexpertise in this area. Staff training and moretechnology-related partnerships will be key.
VI. Human Resources
More than 60 percent of current directors of parkand recreation agencies are expected to retire in the next10 years. Agency officials expect to increase staff in administrative and technical/vocational areas as well as forspecialized programs and programs for special populations. Agencies will need to offer competitive salaries, hiremore new employees due to retirements and considerbenefits for part-time staff. Skills expected from staff inthe next 5 to 10 years include computer and Internettechnology, communication skills, customer-service, bilingual skills and ability to work with different culturesand special populations.
November/December 1999 /7
