PEOPLE AND PLACES

Rockford Park District Appoints Executive Director The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Tim Dimke as executive director at a special meeting in late July, concluding the executive director selection process that began with the announcement that Director Webbs Norman would retire June 1. Dimke, a 34-year veteran of the district, had been serving as interim executive director during a selection process guided by citizen input and aided by IAPD President and CEO Dr. Ted Flickinger. Dimke, a Rockford native, came to the district when he signed on to the maintenance crew in 1973. He worked in maintenance until 1978. He returned to the district as assistant manager for the Riverview Ice House in 1980 and since then has held various positions including: superintendent of special facilities, deputy director of recreation and chief operating officer. Dimke holds a B.S. in parks and recreation administration from Eastern Illinois University and an M.B.A. from Rockford College.

Skokie Park District Names Superintendent of Recreation and Two Facility Managers

Michelle Tuft was recently appointed as the new superintendent of recreation for the Skokie Park District. As the administrator of the district's recreation division, Tuft oversees the management of five district facilities; administers many of the district's recreation programs, special events, child care services and summer camps; and manages all recreation personnel. She is also the chairperson of the annual Skokie Festival of Cultures and July Fourth Celebration organizing committees. Tuft previously worked as facility manager at the district's Weber Leisure Center. She also worked as the American Camping Association co-coordinator for camp certification and served on the Skokie Festival of Cultures organizing committee. Prior to her time at Weber, she served in a similar capacity at the district's Oakton Community Center. She has also worked for the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District, the Winnetka Park District and the Streamwood Park District. Tuft received her bachelor's degree in leisure studies from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1993. She is a member of IPRA and NRPA and is a former IPRA recreation section secretary and director-elect.

Jon Marquardt was recently hired as the facility manager for the Skokie Park District's Weber Leisure Center. In his new position, he is responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of the center. Marquardt comes from his position as manager of the Weber Center's Fitness First Health Club. Previously, he worked for five years as athletic supervisor at the Winnetka Park District. Prior to that, he served as program supervisor of athletics for the City of Lake Forest and as a pool manager and lifeguard at the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District. He is a former emergency medical technician and holds certifications in sports administration, sports first aid, coaching principles, personal training, CPR and automated external defibrillator instruction. Marquardt graduated from Elmhurst College with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.

Crystal VanHyning was recendy appointed as the facility manager for the Skokie Park District's Oakton Community Center. She comes to the district from her position as supervisor of the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District's Maine Park Leisure Center. While in Park Ridge, she also worked as a recreation supervisor. Prior to that, she served as recreation supervisor for the Roselle Park District. VanHyning received her bachelor's degree in recreation, park and tourism administration from Western Illinois University in Macomb in 1999 and is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional. She is a member of IPRA and NRPA.

IN MEMORIAM Homewood-Flossmoor Ice Arena Manager Stephen Purcell Stephen Purcell passed away at age 35 suddenly after an illness on July 3. He had worked at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District since 1995, first as a recreation supervisor and later as manager of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Ice Arena. He was a member of IPRA. He had a B.S. degree in parks and recreation from Illinois State University and a M.S. degree in facility management from Central Michigan University. He is survived by his wife, Amy, and three young sons. Memorials can be made to: Steve Purcell Family Fund, 771 Churchill Dr., New Lenox, Illinois 60451.

Elmhurst Park District Hires Seven

The Elmhurst Park District has recently hired seven new employees to work at various park district departments.

Brian McDermott is the division manager of programming for Courts Plus, the district's racquet and fitness center. With a master's degree in sports management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, McDermott has been working in the healthcare and fitness field for more than 15 years at Advocate Healthcare. Most recently, he was the marketing/clinical program coordinator at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital's fitness center. He has numerous certifications, including as an American College of Sports Medicine Health/Fitness Instructor and a Cooper Institute Health Promotion Director. As the division manager of programming, McDermott is responsible for managing and maintaining the operation of health, fitness and racquet sports programs; leagues; and summer camps.

New to the marketing department are Grant Paplauskas, communications manager, and Kimberly Pugh, marketing assistant. Paplauskas is responsible for designing park district brochures, newsletters and banners, as well as working on the district's Web site. He has seven years' experience with production in the creative industry, having worked previously as a graphic designer and Web manager for Trinity Christian College. He was also the director of visual communication with ATHENA International, a women's leadership organization, where he designed all printed and electronic materials, oversaw organization project branding and helped coordinate marketing efforts. Paplauskas holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Trinity Christian College.

Pugh is a graduate of Marquette University with a bachelor's degree in broadcast and electronic communications. She previously worked for The Arboretum Club as the sales and events coordinator, where her responsibilities included the sales and promotion of the facility's banquet and meeting space and working with clients to coordinate events. As the marketing assistant, Pugh is responsible for building positive media and community relations, preparing promotional materials and newsletters and working with volunteers.

Scott May is the new division manager of finance. He manages the district's daily financial activities, writing journal entries and overseeing the accounting clerical staff. May has four years' experience in accounting. He previously worked with Next Day Gourmet as a staff accountant, where his responsibilities included financial management and supervision. May has also worked as a staff accountant at Capital Mortgage Services and as an accounting clerk at Abacus Staffing. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from North Central College and a bachelor's degree in history from Eastern Illinois University.

The Parks and Recreation Department has hired Stan Hirny and Ramiro Salto as facilities/parks specialists and Darlene Marek as a registration clerk. Since 2002, Hirny worked as a carpenter and maintenance technician at Alliance Building Maintenance Corporation. He has also worked as a carpenter for Triodyne-Wangler Construction Company and Sierra Builders Company. He attended the Technical Mechanization School in Poland.

Ramiro Salto attended HVAC Tech in Bedford Park, where he received his HVAC Technician Type Universal certification. Previously, he worked at Magruder Color Co. for more than 17 years as a miller operator and flusher. As facilities/parks specialists, Hirny and Salto maintain the quality and appearance of the park district's facilities and grounds.

Darlene Marek has several years' experience in customer service, having previously worked as an office manager for Total Decor, Inc. and for Fox Valley Machining Co. and as a flight attendant for United Airlines. She holds an associate's degree in accounting and business administration from Triton College. As the registration clerk, she is responsible for processing and assisting patrons with program registration, as well as general registration office duties.

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Historic Preservation Agency Green Lights a Dixon Park District Property for National Recognition

The Dixon Park District announced this summer that Lowell Park has been approved for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Lowell Park, along with other Dixon Park District properties designed by renowned landscape architect O. C. Simonds in the early part of the 20' century, was unanimously approved by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency at its quarterly meeting June 8 in Bloomington. O. C. Simonds, who understood and appreciated the unique beauty of native Midwestern plant material, is considered to be one of the most influential practitioners of the prairie style, as he inspired a whole generation of Midwestern landscape gardeners. Before he was retained to design Dixon's parks, he designed a system of parks in Quincy, Illinois, as well as parks, cemeteries and private residences in 48 states. The National Register is the nation's official list of places that are recognized for their historical, architectural or archaeological significance and are considered worthy of preservation. The National Register is maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and nominations of Illinois properties to the Register are processed through the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA). A positive vote by IHPA advances the nomination to the state historic preservation officer, who then sends it on to the keeper of the national register at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C.

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New Staff Members at Oak Park

April Armer joined the Park District of Oak Park staff as the assistant superintendent of recreation programs in July. Her main responsibilities include managing the operation, staffing and programming of recreational services offered at eight recreation centers, as well as at local schools. She also coordinates and schedules the use and permitting of all park properties. Armer comes to Oak Park from the Skokie Park District, where she managed the Oakton Center. Armer is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in recreation and park administration.

Steven Flowershas been named the revenue facilities maintenance supervisor at the district. In this newly-created position, Flowers is responsible for managing the physical operations and day-to-day maintenance of Ridgeland Common Pool and Ice Rink, Rehm Pool and the Oak Park Gymnastics Center. Flowers comes to Oak Park with a wide range of expertise, having worked in the U. S. Navy for 10 years and most recently as the maintenance supervisor for a nursing home.

Rory Joyce was recently named the district's new aquatic and rink programs supervisor. In this position, Joyce coordinates the training and supervision of more than 100 lifeguards and staff at the district's two outdoor pools. He also coordinates the Learn-to-Swim and Learn-to-Skate Schools, as well as related recreation programs. Joyce is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in psychology. He previously supervised rink and pool operations at the district in a part-time capacity.

Katie Kujawa recently joined the staff as a full-time gymnastics coach at the Oak Park Gymnastics Center. Kujawa, who has been enjoying gymnastics since she was eight, graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA. in elementary education and sports management and communications. She has experience teaching pre-school and recreational gymnastics and has spent the last two years coaching girls' levels 3 through 5.

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Land Purchase Creates New Forest Preserve in Western Lake County

In late July, the Lake County Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners voted to purchase a 134-acre parcel of land that will become the Black Crown Forest Preserve. The acreage will protect a state-owned natural area and provide a link for the statewide Grand Illinois Trail. The cost of the land was $6,312,778.

The purchase adjoins Black Crown Marsh, an Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) holding in McHenry County. The new forest preserve helps protect the Black Crown Marsh wetland complex and provides future opportunities for trail connections and access for Lake County residents to public recreation lands in McHenry County, including the 2,200-acre Moraine Hills State Park.

The parcel is part of a larger 245-acre property, currently known as the Oakmount Game Club, located on the boundary of Lake and McHenry Counties. Though the property is split nearly evenly between the two counties, the property owner required that the entire 245-acre parcel be sold as one transaction.

Through a cooperative purchase agreement guided by the nonprofit Corporation for Open Lands (CorLands), the land buying affiliate of Openlands of Chicago, the 245-acre property is being purchased by CorLands on behalf of the Lake County forest preserves and the IDNR. CorLands will then immediately resell the 134-acre portion that is in Lake County to the forest preserve district. CorLands will hold and resell the remaining 111-acres in McHenry County to the IDNR.

The 245-acre parcel adjoins the 628-acre Black Crown Marsh wetland complex, effectively expanding that site to 873 acres and creating an opportunity to establish and maintain prime habitat for wetland species. Located adjacent to the Black Crown Marsh is the 2,200-acre Moraine Hills State Park, another IDNR holding. These open areas combine to create a 3,073-acre stretch of open space in Lake and McHenry Counties for outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat.

"It has always been our hope to preserve this land to give further protection to Black Crown Marsh. Doing so allows the forest preserve district to play an important role in regional preservation of our natural resources and to expand public open space in western Lake County," said Lake County Forest Preserve President Bonnie Thomson Carter.

Newly Certified Professionals

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Mt. Prospect Park District Announces Three Appointments

Christina Greco has joined the Mt. Prospect Park District as its customer service manager. Greco's career includes more than 20 years of customer service and facility management for national retailers. Most recently, she held the position of assistant general manager for K-Mart stores, where she supervised a staff of nearly 100 employees and was responsible for inventory, operations, scheduling, hiring, training, budgeting and customer service. Greco is an Iowa State University graduate with a B.A. in business administration.

Stan Sunleaf has been selected as the Friendship Park Conservatory manager. Sunleaf brings a successful track record of managing day-to-day operations at several different service-orientated companies. As a business professional, Stan has served as the assistant manager of Forest View Racquet Club in Arlington Heights, The Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows and as operations manager for the Deerfield Multiplex. A graduate of Western Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and business, Sunleaf has additional certifications in OSHA training, CPR, alcohol awareness training and has completed coursework in various computer applications.

Theresa Wirkus has accepted a position with the district as cultural arts coordinator. Wirkus has been working for the park district for two years in the youth/tot department. Prior to that, she worked for NWSRA, where she still volunteers for Special Olympics. Wirkus holds a bachelor's degree in recreation from Western Illinois University. Her work experience ranges from dance instructor for the Des Plaines Park District to sales director for International Machine Tool Import Company. Teri also brings a background in music, stained glass and glass fusing.

Park District Hires Public Relations Coordinator

The Fox Valley Park District has named Amy Roth to its new public relations coordinator post. Roth, of Aurora, most recently served as marketing coordinator for a Panera Bread franchisee. She contributed to The Beacon News for 10 years as both a freelance writer and staff member. She also wrote news and feature articles for The Chicago Tribune and newspapers in Downers Grove and Texas.

Steve Messerli, executive director of the park district, said the new public relations coordinator position was established to "tell the park district's positive story." "One of the major initiatives for the district this year is to let our residents and guests know more about all the wonderful programs and excellent facilities that the district provides," Messerli said. "We need to be proactive in keeping our residents and guests informed on all that is going on in the district." The Fox Valley Park District is the second largest park district in Illinois, encompassing an area of 57 square miles.

Cary Hires Communications Director

The Cary Park District has hired Katherine McGllire as director of communications and marketing. She helps develop and implement the district's promotion and publicity program.

McGuire was most recently the public affairs director for the Chicago Bar Association. She has more than ten years' professional experience in parks and recreation, including positions as deputy press secretary, communications specialist and recreation leader for the Chicago Park District. McGuire has a B.A. degree in liberal arts from Columbia College in Chicago.

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Glen Ellyn Park District Welcomes New Recreation Supervisor

The Glen Ellyn Park District welcomed Sarah Wettergreen as its newest recreation supervisor in July. She is responsible for various areas of recreation programming including early childhood, preschool, special events, dance and a variety of specialty classes. Wettergreen earned a B.A. in early childhood education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has worked as a lifeguard, swim lesson coordinator and pool manager for the Geneva Park District part time for eight years and as the assistant aquatic manager full time at the Bartiett Park District for one year.

NEDSRA Hires New Recreation Specialist

Erin Roberts joined the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association team as a recreation specialist in June. Roberts' primary responsibility is program leadership. She is a recent graduate from the University of Iowa with her B.S. in therapeutic recreation and a minor in aging studies. She comes to the SRA after completing an internship at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, where she worked with individuals with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, strokes and neuromuscular difficulties. Other relevant work experience includes part-time work at the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, at long-term care facilities and as a volunteer with the Iowa City Recreation Department.

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