EVER LOSE A REFERENDUM? ON October 25, 1969, Lombard, for the first time lost a referendum. After spending $5,600 on referendum publicity, 3,300 Lombard voters defeated a proposed $1,700,000 referendum by 116 votes.

The Park Board then faced the stark reality that it had to win the next referendum as it was the last chance to acquire enough good land for parks, existing available land was going fast.

The Park Board decided to establish a new referendum objective "to create a favorable attitude toward the park referendum and get out enough "yes" votes to pass it." Goals to accomplish the park referendum were established to:

—Stimulate community leaders to form a "Citizens For" organization that would actively campaign for the park referendum.

—Enlist support of the majority of Lombard organizations for the Park referendum.

—Stimulate the youth of the community to support the park referendum.

—Reach every Lombard resident at least once, more if possible, with the facts of the park referendum.

The Park District set its goals and decided to act. A referendum date was set for October 31, 1970. The Park Board also allocated the funds necessary to conduct a proper referendum campaign. An estimated $25,000 for the entire land referendum including designs of all proposed parks, publicity, and legal expenses was spent. The Park District staff acted as project coordinators. Bob Krieg, a local Lombard resident, assisted with the entire public relations program. The public information-education program was extensive. Main public information elements were (1) an oversize eight page two color brochure, (2) planographs of all proposed parks, (3) slide presentations, (4) lapel buttons, (5) store window displays, (6) 81/2 x 11 yard signs, (7) a citizens for parks committee, (8) poster contest, (9) signs in existing parks, (10) signs at proposed park sites, (11) and through it all an open line was held with all the local news media.

On October 31, 1970 Lombard Park District voters came out in force twice the number of last years park election and cast 5596 votes for and 946 against, a strong 6-1 majority. The referendum contained funds for the purchase of 103 acres of land. Lombard already has 263 acres, so the total of 366 acres is at National Standard levels for a town of 37,000. Also included in the referendum were funds to develop three existing parks, three park-school sites, four newly acquired parks. All park development was planned and master site plans drawn for each park. William Rose and Associates of Hinsdale, Illinois designed all the parks. Small 8 1/2 x 11 pictures of the designs, called planographs, were distributed during all the community presentations. Each resident had complete information as to how the existing and future parks would be designed.

Voters were informed that the park District would seek Federal Aid to pay 50 percent of the land costs. During the entire publicity campaign, voters were informed that the average $1.50 a month cost to the homeowner would be reduced to 75¢ per month if federal aid was obtained. Alan R. Caskey of A. R. C. Associates was engaged to prepare and file the federal aid applications. An application was filed with the State of Illinois Department of Conservation asking for more than 1.6 million dollars. The 1.6 million dollar application is one of the largest for a local political subdivision. A 1971 fiscal year grant of $240,000 was funded and the Park District proceeded to buy the Westmore Woods property. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation has approved the entire project and the Park District is hopeful of getting the remainder of the project funded from the 1972 fiscal year Illinois allotment.

Cal Caldwell is President of the Lombard Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 November/December, 1971