Dear Editor,

What is the role of the park and recreation movement in Illinois as it relates to society today and for the future.

Whose responsibility is it to produce editorial comments such as is contained on page 19 of the May issue of Parks and Recreation—the official publication of the National Recreation and Park Association which relates to trends in the leisure service systems.

Whose responsibility is it to make the Park Districts in Illinois aware and cognizant of changing trends, additional areas of responsibility and improved technology. Of course each park district is responsible in these areas, but do each of the 200 plus members of I.A.P.D. go their own way—of course not. But who is to be the catalyst to bring about direction, leadership and an awareness of what is happening so we as a group can act rather than react as we have done so many times in the past.

Whose responsibility is it to attempt to predict and program our role for future society. If we are not conversant with trend changes how can we logically request and endorse legislation for more tax dollars unless we can effectively and comprehensively produce logical uses and services for these additional requested monies.

Who is our spokesman, who is our researcher, who is our leader who speaks with authority on park matters, who gives us direction, who is our counselor—we had better find one quickly.

Sincerely,
Edward Hauser, President
Elk Grove Park District

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Dear Editor,

I have attended the first three programs of the I.P.R.S. Technical Assistance Series and have found them informative and interesting, well worth the time of every Recreation Agency in the State. At each of the sessions arrangements had been made for many more participants than attended. Each session had a larger registration than actual participation. For example, of more than 25 persons registering for the Ekistics workshop in Peoria, only two were there on time and only eleven attended at all.

Members of I.P.R.S., lets put ourselves in the place of the people who are organizing the Technical Series for us. If you were to make the physical arrangements, convince qualified persons that they should speak before your organization, conduct a successful registration, and then, few attend, how would you feel? Would you do it again?

If these are the types of programs we want then let's attend when we say we will. If they are not, then let's not say we will be there. The Technical Assistance Series is a service we have asked for from our society. How can we expect I.P.R.S. to respond to us if we don't respond to them?

Sincerely,
Paul V. Swanson, Director of Recreation
Elk Grove Park District

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Dear Editor,

I have submitted an article on vandal-proof items. The end of the article invites the exchange of ideas from my fellow IPRS members who are involved not with theory and philosophy but with the nuts and bolts, bread and butter problems that face every Park Department and District regardless of size or financial backing.

It is my feeling that a column is needed in the IPRS magazine on the nuts and bolts of park maintenance rather than the theory and philosophy. I am suggesting a column contributed to by my fellow professionals dealing with practical and actual solutions to the problems each of us face.

I face these bread and butter problems and am knowledgeable in mechanics and construction. Using the centralized machinery of communications that the magazine offers, together we could pull our heads out of the clouds and get our feet on the ground by creating such a forum. I believe this will be a useful and far reaching contributions to our professional society.

Sincerely,
Gary L. Hopfinger
Belleville Recreation & Parks Department

(Editor Note: This is an excellent idea. See page 11 for the new column on park operations. We now need all of the readers help in contributing their problems and solutions. Let's use the magazine as a viable tool in communicating.)

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Principals involved in the Princeton Park District dedication program of the George E. Zearing Park and Arbor Day event are pictured above. From left are Park Board members Bill Diller, Lowell "Bodie" Smallwood, Dick Nelson and Bob Hanna; Fred G. Russell, the secretary for the board; Group at right, from left to right, includes Mrs. George E. (Eunice) Zearing; Carl Hultine, president of the park board; Joe Pratt, superintendent; Princeton Mayor R. H. Eckdahl, and Webster Wiley, Kewanee, past president of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, and a speaker for the dedication event.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 15 September/October, 1976