By Ted Flickinger Managing Editor

This magazine has a "new look" with the addition of Outdoor Highlights, a most informative publication produced by the Illinois Department of Conservation (DOC). We have inserted this publication in the IPR to give you the most up-to-date information about the department's efforts in the areas of fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreational pursuits; open space lands acquisition and development, and other related news from throughout Illinois. Outdoor Highlights will appear in subsequent issues, too.

This issue also marks the debut of a new series focusing on park districts' cooperative efforts with other units of local government and the private sector. We begin with Carl Hartmann's article about the Vemon Hills Park District's project with a local restaurant that raised additional funds for, and heightened public awareness about, the district.

With the advent of summer, this issue also explores the role of highway welcome centers in Illinois' tourism industry in an article authored by Thomas Van Hyning. In another feature, Douglas McEwen and Robert Espeseth explore the competition between State park systems and private campground operators.

Bob Porter continues his series on park district finances with information about the audit and Comptroller's report. Judith Zopp explains how you can devise your own in-house marketing plan, and Lynn Wheeler relates the impact of the arts on recreational programming.

Other features include Peter Murphy's Legal/Legislative Scene, Matt Ellmann's reminder about "Arts in the Parks" month, and a special thank you to the friends of the Illinois Conservation, Park and Recreation Foundation. The magazine concludes with a tribute to an outstanding professional and friend, William Freeberg.

We hope you find this issue interesting and informative.

The cover photograph, "Spotted Orchids," was taken in the Washington Park greenhouse, Springfield, IL, by Doranne Jacobson, a Springfield photographer, writer and editor. © Doranne Jacobson.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 5 May/June 1987