illinois Vo l u m e 4 5 , N u m b e r 2 M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 4 PR PARKS AND RECREATION The magazine of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association going green PLUS: Conference Awards and Give Us Your Best Shot Winners IN THIS ISSUE From the Editor 4 What it means to “go green” Get on Board 6 The park district advantage Eye on the Profession 8 IPRA is off to a great 2014 after a fantastic Soaring to New Heights Conference Statehouse Insider 10 Plenty of legislation to watch closely as state budget dominates spring session Conference Coverage 12 A recap of the all-conference awards luncheon and other highlights Even Greener 16 How intergovernmental cooperation could help your agency go green Sustaining the Future Through the 18 Rockford Park District A look at how Rockford Park District uses every resource to go green 12 WebXtra 21 Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse Project – Planting the seeds for a more efficient future Through Green Colored Glasses 22 See how the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to going green A Photo Finish 25 Results of the 2013 “Give Us Your Best Shot” photo contest 27 People and Places 18 25 Faces and places making news around the state I L L I N O I S P A R K S A N D R E C R E A T I O N illinois FROM THE EDITOR PR PARKS AND RECREATION It was springtime and I 211 East Monroe Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701-1186 217.523.4554 FAX 217.523.4273 [email protected] www.ILparks.org www.ILipra.org had just come on board with the IAPD as the new Managing Editor Graphic Design PETER M. MURPHY, President and Chief Executive Officer, IAPD GOSS GRAPHIC DESIGN, 217.423.4739, www.gossgrfx.com publications director. I Editor Advertising Sales RACHEL LAIER, Publications Director, IAPD CARL MISCHKA, 888.666.1491, [email protected] began to learn about the organization and soon realized it was my duty to live up to these “green” JOINT EDITORIAL COMMITTEE initiatives the association stood behind. We signed up IAPD Representatives IPRA Representatives for recycling (yes, I know I hadn't done it sooner). We ANN AUSTIN, Rock Island Park & Recreation Department ARNIE BIONDO, Forest Preserve of DuPage County ASHLEY GOTT, Marion Park District LAURA BARRON, Oakbrook Terrace Park District MIKE KROST, Chillicothe Park District KARI MILLER, Batavia Park District replaced incandescent bulbs with compact flourescents, we replaced plastic plants with live plants in our aquariums and added more live plants to ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF PARK DISTRICTS JOSEPH PETRY, Chairman, Champaign Park District KELLY CUMMINGS, Peoria Park District the sunroom. We even started using reusable bags to DIANE MAIN, Chairman-Elect, Westmont Park District KEVIN DOLAN, Mundelein Park & Recreation District DON ANDERSEN, Immediate Past Chairman, Oak Lawn Park District ERIC ENTLER, Park District of Forest Park go grocery shopping, and yes, they are actually TOM BARZ, Vice Chairman, Frankfort Park District ASHLEY GOTT, Marion Park District KEN COLLIN, Vice Chairman, Freeport Park District JOHN HOSCHEIT, Forest Preserve District of Kane County colored green. We started doing everything we could RON LEHMAN, Vice Chairman, Channahon Park District IAN LARKIN, Winnetka Park District GRAY NOLL, Treasurer, Springfield Park District DALE LARSON, New Lenox Community Park District DOUG BROOKS, Rockford Park District DAVID MCDEVITT, Effingham Park District to green up our lives once I realized the impact a few GAYLE CINKE, Grayslake Community Park District MIKE VOGL, Bloomingdale Park District changes could make on the environment if many people made them. IAPD HEADQUARTERS 211 East Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1186 217.523.4554 www.ILparks.org PETER M. MURPHY, President and Chief Executive Officer RACHEL LAIER, Publications Director Going green for park agencies is a little different than JASON ANSELMENT, Legal/Legislative Counsel SHANNON SARTAIN, Legal Secretary BOBBIE JO HILL, Public Relations Director CINDY TIMMERMANN, Marketing Director just making some changes at home. Environmentally ALAN HOWARD, Finance Director SUE TRIPHAHN, CMP, Educational Services Director SHERRI KHILE, Executive Secretary friendly choices for agencies can affect thousands of people for generations to come. Inside this issue of ILLINOIS PARK AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION Illinois Parks and Recreation magazine, you will see JANICE HINCAPIE, Chairman, Lincolnwood Parks & Recreation Department CENTRAL REGION RICK HANETHO, Chairman-Elect, Northbrook Park District DAWN SCHAEFER, Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation how a few park districts and forest preserves take ALLISON NIEMELA, Immediate Past Chairman, Batavia Park District NORTHERN REGION CHICAGO METRO REGION MOLLY HAMMER, Geneseo Park District going green to the extreme and how an RITA FLETCHER, Bartlett Park District COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE intergovernmental agreement may be just what your SOUTHERN REGION MATTHEW CORSO, South East Association for Special Parks MARY JEANNE HUTCHISON, O'Fallon Parks and Recreation and Recreation (SEASPAR) agency needs to get started in the right direction. MEMBER-AT-LARGE MICHAEL KIES, Hoffman Estates Park District In this issue, you will also find the award winners from IPRA HEADQUARTERS the 2014 Soaring to New Heights Conference as well 536 East Avenue, LaGrange, IL 60525-6815 708.588.2280 Fax 708.354.0535 www.ILipra.org as the winners of the 2013 “Give Us Your Best Shot” DEBBIE TRUEBLOOD, Executive Director LEESA KUO, Conference and Meeting Director MATT FAIRBANKS, Membership and Education Director SHEILA MULVEY-TATORIS, Education and Member Services Manager photo contest. Congratulations to all the winners! BARRY FRANKS, Finance Director HEATHER WEISHAAR, Communications and Development Manager Illinois Parks and Recreation (ISSN 0019-2155) is published bimonthly at 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, Illinois, by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Annual subscription rates: $12 for IAPD/IPRA members; $50 for non-members; $60 foreign; $20 educational institutions. Single copies: $2 members; $10 nonmembers. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, Illinois and additional post offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1186. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the official views of the IAPD/IPRA. Likewise, the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or services offered. Members of the IAPD and the IPRA and other interested persons are encouraged to submit articles and illustrative photos for possible publication in the magazine. Send for manuscript guidelines and deadline dates: Editor, Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1186, 217.523.4554, — Rachel Laier, Editor [email protected], www.ILparks.org. By submitting articles for publication, authors are assigning the copyright to the Illinois Association of Park Districts. Copyright© by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. All rights reserved. Reprints of articles in whole or in part without prior written permission are prohibited. 4 I l l i n o i s P a r k s & R e c r e a t i o n w w w . i p r a o n l i n e . c o m GET ON BOARD The Park District Advantage Peter M. Murphy IAPD President and CEO One of the most professionally rewarding and rejuvenating experiences I • Studies also show that parks improve property values by 20% and more have, besides attending IAPD’s Gala and the IAPD/IPRA Conference than 75% of people agree that parks in their community improve Awards Luncheon, is to be involved with citizens who are organizing efforts property values. to create a new park district. Both are a reminder of the dedication that goes into making Illinois park and recreation systems the finest in the Park Districts Pay for Themselves nation. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the historical development of park districts in Illinois and reexamine the benefits they provide communities across the State. The seasonal program brochures published by park districts, forest gpreserves and conservation districts detailing the vast array of recreational opportunities available is also a clear indication of how we make a real difference, as do the lengthy list of Olympic athletes from Illinois that began their sport in public parks and recreation. IAPD has a tremendous database on its membership and that data is always available to you, our members, to help your agency. Take a look at: IAPD Membership by the Numbers • There are 13,753 square miles served by IAPD member agencies. • There are 240,964 acres owned by IAPD member agencies. • There are 11,894 acres leased by IAPD member agencies. Amenities Provided by Park Districts • 6,000 local park sites • 426 swimming pools • 602 fishing areas • 668 recreation centers • 1,027 miles of bicycle trails Reduce Healthcare Costs • 345 miles of nature trails • Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged • 318 miles of equestrian trails 2-19 years are obese. (Source: CDC) • 87 campgrounds • Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in • 149 boating areas adolescents in the past 30 years. (Source: CDC) • 96 beaches and 37 marinas • Illinois’ local park and recreation agencies offer thousands of • 2,676 tennis courts programs to promote healthier lifestyles and avoid expensive medical • 139 golf courses costs. • 82 sledding hills and 3 ski slopes • Thousands of recreational Reduce Crime programs • As many as 15 million children are unsupervised during non-school Illinoisans Who Visited/Used hours. On school days, 3:00-6:00 p.m. are the peak hours for teens to Do your citizens know how: Park District Last Year commit crimes, be in or cause car crashes, be victims of crime, and smoke, drink and use drugs.