What is the Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation?

Most of us who are involved in one way or another with parks and recreation in Illinois have heard the name Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation on occasion, but few of us really know too much about it. What is the Foundation, how and why was it created and what is it doing now?

The Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation was formed in the early 1970's. Its primary purpose was to finance projects that involved neither IAPD or IPRS (as it was known then) however were worthy of support. The Foundation had its goal to protect open space for leisure use, to promote leisure opportunities, to fund research projects and scholarships in the field of parks and recreation and to award outstanding accomplishments in the field.

Due to some unforeseen occurrences, the Foundation was stagnant during the past few years. However, a new Board of Trustees has been meeting to reactivate the work of the Foundation. Goals have been established for the 1978-79 year and they include 1) encouragement of membership and support of every Commissioner and professional, 2) to revitalize the scholarship research granting program and 3) to make awards at the Illinois Park and Recreation Conference in St. Louis to those individuals representing business concerns who have made outstanding contributions to the parks, recreation and conservation movements.

If you have ideas or suggestions that will assist the Foundation Trustees in meeting the above goals, please write to the Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation at 600 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016, or contact any one of the following Trustees: Allan Weissburg, Skokie; Roger Bjorvik, Chicago; Kay Kastel Forest, Des Plaines; Robert O. Pohl, Glenview; Eugene Berghoff, Springfield; Ernest Nance, Highland Park; Dan Malkovich, Benton; Herbert Stevens, Paxton, Barbara Williams, Straus, Olympia Fields; Dr. Allen Sapora, Champaign; Betty Irons, Flossmoor; Michael J. Cassidy, Freeport; Ronald H. Dodd, Park Ridge; Millie Jones, Bloomingdale; Robert S. Nichols, Bensenville; and Chuck Paxton, Zion.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 18 November/December, 1978