Armond King Housing Project

"An Unusual Senior Citizen Program"

by Geri Erenberg

Seniors at Armond King Housing project celebrate Hanukkah with special festivities.

Senior Citizens are a great responsibility to a community's recreation program. After the 1970 census, it became apparent to the Skokie Park District, the Village of Skokie, and to Cook County that something must be done to help these special citizens, especially since they make up 15 percent of the total population of Skokie.

After the census, the Cook County Housing Authority in cooperation with the Village of Skokie began building a ten story Senior Citizen's Housing project located on the corner of Church Street and Gross Point Road. By June of 1971 the authority received over 500 applications for the 120 apartments available in the building.

In January of 1972 the Board of the Housing Authority solicited recreation agencies in Skokie to submit program ideas to them in order to be awarded a lease of the recreational facilities. These facilities include a kitchen, a craft room, and an activity room.

In April of the same year the Board awarded a one year lease to the Skokie Park District to operate a recreation program for the residents of the building. The Park District took the lease with the stipulations that the public could participate in any park district sponsored activity in the building and that the residents of the building would not have to pay the dollar a year membership fee.

The park district then hired a full-time activity director to plan, prepare, organize and lead program activities for the Senior Citizens. The program, began very slowly, with the activity director moving in and getting acquainted at the same time as the residents.

Seniors participate in a slim and trim exercise class.

A good feature of everyone moving in at the same time was that the activity director could welcome them and invite them to join the programs. By showing these Seniors that someone cared about them, they were made to feel important and therefore reciprocated by attending different activities. By June of 1972, after the building was dedicated, a five day a week program had been initiated at the Armond King Housing Project.

The regular activities include Bingo, Crafts, Wood-Carving, Ceramic Tiling, Sewing and Crocheting, Movies, Service Projects and Socials. Parties are held for every possible religious, national and personal holiday.

Men enjoy a game of pool in the game room at the Housing project

The activity director, with the cooperation of the Skokie Health Department, has organized a physical fitness program which includes exercises and dieting. A new monthly program that has been introduced is the Pot Pourri Day in which the participants play games, have a picnic, and invite Nursing Home patients to join in the festivities.

Many service groups in the community volunteer their time to entertain the Seniors at the Project. Part of their program also consists of Special Events

Illinois Parks and Recreation 6 September/October, 1973

Ken Schultz, Supt. of Recreation, Skokie, and Lilian Kollicky, Senior Citizen Director, participate in the costume Halloween Parly or the project.

such as a Las Vegas night and monthly trips to places of interest in the surrounding area. The activity director has volunteers from the building who serve refreshments, teach special interest classes, write a monthly news letter as well as an activist who is continually fighting for the rights of the Senior Citizens.

The Housing Project has a very energetic and active group of participants. Their program is so successful that there is a waiting list of Senior Citizens not residing in the building who would like to participate in the activities. The program activities have enhanced the fellowship of those Senior Citizens involved and will attempt to maintain the further development of Senior Citizen leisure time.

(Editor's note: Geri Erenberg is Program Supervisor for the Skokie Park District.)

Dr. J. Campbell Carey and Jack Tabor received special recognition Wednesday, June 13, 1973, from the Illinois Association of Park Districts. The two Jolietans received the citations for community service. Dr. Carey was a Park District Board member more than 10 years. Tabor recently retired from park district employment after 39 years as secretary and treasurer. Pictured from left to right: Sam Basan, Dierctor; Dr. William Sims, Commissioner; John V. Hudak, Commissioner; Eugene BerghoK, Executive Vice President, Illinois Association of Park Districts; Jack Tabor; Dr. J. Campbell Carey; Raymond J. Lindblad, President and Director, IAPD; Wayne L. Vercellotti, Commissioner; and Paul E. Briese, Commissioner.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 7 September/October, 1973