From the desk of: Executive Vice President By Eugene Berghoff

GENE BERGHOFF

In 1976 America will celebate its Bicentennial.

Congress has created a Federal Bicentennial Commission to coordinate national policy and to develop plans for celebrating this great event. The Commission will also work with all 50 states and provide assistance for their individual programs.

The Illinois General Assembly enacted legislation which established a State Bicentennial Commission to work with all local groups and agencies in developing their plans for this event.

As an example a contest is being sponsored by the Secretary of State, Michael J. Hewlett, that encourages all high school and elementary students in Illinois to submit a historical design for the 1976 Illinois License plates.

Mr. David Sullivan has been appointed Executive Director of the Illinois Bicentennial Commission and has invited your Association to several meetings to assist his office in developing the role that park, conservation and forest preserve districts will play in the State's Program for 1976.

Mr. Sullivan has also attended a number of meetings in Washington, D.C. and has informed us that a National Bicycle Trail is being developed from California to New York. At the present time we do not know the exact route this bike trail will follow through Illinois.

As you recall, S.B. 83 was passed at the last session of the General Assembly which would assist local units of government in developing bike trails in Illinois. However, the Governor vetoed a companion bill which was the appropriation of funds to provide grants for this purpose.

Representative Harold A. Katz, Glencoe, Illinois, has introduced H.B. 2762, which appropriates $3,704,655 dollars to the Department of Transportation to provide the necessary funds to implement a state bikeway program. The bill was heard before the House Transportation Committee on May 21, 1974 and after all testimony was in the Committee voted to recommend to the full House that this bill pass. Your Association attended this hearing to represent the interest of all of our members.

In addition to the funds appropriated in H.B. 2762; Mr. Sullivan has informed us that federal funds would be provided to develop the National Bike Trail and as we receive further information you will be notified in our Newsletter or Magazine.

Each board and staff member should give consideration in programming events during 1976 that will coincide with the general theme of our country's Bicentennial.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 3 July/August, 1974