People and Places in the News
IAPD and IPRA Salute Our Finest by Jayne Kilborne and Amy Madigan
At the IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference held at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, January 11-14, 1996, the two associations once again recognized many outstanding professionals and dedicated board members in the field of parks and recreation. The IAPD and IPRA Awards and Recognition committees chose the following individuals and agencies to be honored for their exceptional service. Allan A. Weissburg "Commissioner of the Year" Award Donald R. Jessen, Addison Robert M. Artz Distinguished Service Award Keith Prankland, Woodridge IPRA Fellow Award Terry Schwartz, Glen Ellyn IPRA Professional Recognition Award Larry S. Reiner, NEDSRA
IAPD President Phyllis Cossarek awards Tom Cavanagh an IAPD President's Citation
Diane Smuskiewicz receives an IAPD President's Citation
Donald Jessen (left) and Keith Frankland achieve the highest IAPD and IPRA honors
IPRA President Debbie Carlson awards Larry Reiner the Professional Recognition Award
Terry Schwartz receives the IPRA Fellow Award IAPD President's Citation
Thomas K. Cavanagh, Springfield
IPRA Meritorious Service Award IPRA President's Award
Ralph Volpe. Highland Park IPRA Student Scholarship Award Joe Morgan, Illinois State University Outstanding Legislator Award
Representative Lee A. Daniels Distinguished Park and Recreation Agency Award
Buffalo Grove National Gold Medal Award Winners
Schaumburg, Class I National Gold Medal Award Finalists
Skokie, Class III
54 • Illinois Parks & Recreation • January/February 1996 Arbor Day Award Fox Valley
The following agencies received an Outstanding Facility Award for unique achievements in facility design and development.
Division I (EAV of $200 million or less) Sergeant Means Park, Olympia Fields
Division II (EAV over $200 million) Heritage Bluffs Golf Course, Channahon Multiple Use Facility
The RecPlex, Mt. Prospect
Aquatic Facility Seascape Family Aquatic Center, Hoffman Estates Renovated Facility Palatine Stables, Palatine
The following agencies received an Outstanding Program Award which honors public agencies for exceptional and innovative program development and implementation. Division I (EAV of less than $200 million) Cruisin' the Colleges, Country Club Hills Division II (EAV of $200 million to less than $400 million) Streamwood Summer Celebration, Streamwood Division III (EAV over $400 million)
Exercise the Right Choice, Peoria Division IV (Special Recreation Assn) Ability Awareness Day, Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation
The following agency received a Conservation Program Award which honors public agencies for exceptional and innovative environmental conservation projects or programs. Division III (EAV over $400 million) Parent a Tree, FPD of DuPage County
LAPD Service Anniversary Awards honor individuals who have served 10,15,20 or 25 years on their park district's board of directors. A special award was presented this year for 30 years of dedicated service. 10 Years of Service
Dr. Ewen L. Bryden, Charleston
15 Years of Service
Roger P. Allen, Peoria 20 Years of Service
Newton H. Dodds, Champaign
25 Years of Service 30 Years of Service Edward Karasek, Berwyn Illinois Parks & Recreation • January/February 1996 • 55 Agency Anniversary Awards were presented to park districts, recreation agencies, forest preserve districts and conservation agencies celebrating 25th, 50th or 75th anniversaries. 25 Years
Channahon 50 Years
Clarendon Hills
75 Years
14th Annual Agency Showcase Awards were presented to the following agencies. Agency Logo
Section B - Winfield & Collinsville
Special Programming Logo
Section B - C-U Special Recreation Brochure Cover
Section A - Summit & Washington Brochure Content
Section A - Washington & Sandwich Brochure Series
Section B - Riverside & LaGrange Special Programming Brochure
Section C- Highland Park &
Special Facility Brochure Section C - Lake County FPD & Streamwood
The IPRA Sections recognized members who have contributed to their profession through their service to each section. Facility Management Section Professional of the Year Nancy Radtke, Mt. Prospect Aquatic Center Manager of the Year Ron Oestreich, Skokie Community/Fitness Center Manager of the Year Jan Buchs, Wheeling Natural Museum Manager of the Year Judy Mann, Iron Oaks Environmental Center Literary Achievement
Mike Dark, River Trails
Recreation Programming Section Al Hattendorf Professional Award Liza McElroy, Winnetka Young Professional of the Year Ellen Schnackel, Bensenville Parks and Natural Resources Management Section Professional of the Year Dan Otto, Schaumburg Therapeutic Recreation Section Professional of the Year Sandy Olson, SSSRA New Professional Award Eileen M. Loftus, SEASPAR SRANI Affiliate Award Tracey Weinum, FVSRA Excellence in Service Award Organization
Project Include Management Team. Director's Award
Patty Blazevich, FVSRA ITRS Student Award
Julie Keil, Illinois State University
Illinois Parks & Recreation Magazine Awards were presented to individuals in "Best of categories for outstanding article and cover photography contributions. Administration/Facility Management Susan Ladendorf, Indiana State University Boardmanship/Volunteers Chris Linnell and Brook McDonald, FPD of DuPage County Features/Issues Robert A. Porter, CLP, Lemont Intergovernmental Cooperation/Partnerships
Pamela M. Hunt, M.Ed. Country Club Hills Legal/Legislative Nancy L. Kaszak Ancel, Glink, Diamond, Cope & Bush, P.C. Natural Resources/Environment Ellen Riedl, Crystal Lake Public Awareness/Marketing Dale Goodner, Peoria Recreation/Programming
Ray Morrill, CLP, Wheaton Research/Trends
Lisa C. Pesavento, Raymond Cover Photograph William D. Glass Illinois Department of Natural Resources Community Service Awards were awarded to agencies, groups and individuals in the following categories: Non-Member Employee, IAPD/IPRA Individual Merit Award, IAPD/IPRA Group Merit Award, Commercial Business, Elected or Appointed Bodies and Individuals. Congratulations to the more than 200 recipients of the Community Service Awards. Congratulations to the 1995 recipients! IAPD and IPRA are proud of the individuals who volunteered countless hours to help promote the field of parks and recreation in Illinois. Start thinking now about who to nominate in 1996! Representing IPRA and IAPD awards committees, Jayne Kilborne Madigan is on staff at lAPD. 56 • Illinois Parks & Recreation • January/February 1996 In Memoriam to Bill Wingate Bill Wingate, 77, a naturalist and educator in the McHenry County area, died in a two-car accident on November 16. Wingate's contributions to the Crystal Lake Park District and his commitment as a volunteer will certainly survive him. For more than 25 years he spearheaded an immense project to rehabilitate 40 acres of native Illinois prairie located in Veteran Acres Park. In 1994, the site was dedicated in his honor as Wingate Prairie. His love for nature was felt by everyone he met. During a recent interview on the prairie, Wingate stated work at the prairie would continue long after his life. "I will most likely never see its completion," he said, "to become the 'Buschart Gardens' of McHenry County. But I believe we've made a good start. If we show enough interest now. someone will see its value and continue the work." Wingate was a board member of the McHenry County Conservation District from 1981 to 1986, serving his last two years as president. He also worked as a volunteer of the conservation district site development committee since 1986. He worked more than 20 years at Countryside School in Barrington and at the Crystal Lake High School Library. He also taught courses at Northwestern University and was a summer camp naturalist at the Pleasant Valley Outdoor Center. In addition, Wingate was an active member of the Illinois Audubon Society and a board member of the Land Foundation of McHenry County. Despite all his memberships and teachings, Wingate's foremost interest was nature itself. Of all creatures great and small, Bill Wingate, you shall be missed by all. Batavia's Quarry Beach Wins AIA Award Burnidge Cassell Associates won the American Institute of Architect's (AIA) Excellence in Architecture Award for Preservation/Adaptive Reuse for its work on the Batavia Park District's Quarry Beach, one of 20 working limestone quarries dating from the late-1800s located in the Fox River Valley. Limestone from the quarry was used to help build Chicago and neighboring towns. The project included restoration and reconstruction of two bathhouses, a concession stand and the main beach office. On the project, Burnidge Cassell Associates worked in tandem with Leisure Concepts and Design of Mount Prospect, which designed the layout of the pool amenities. Burnidge Cassell, a 27 year-old firm located in Elgin, employs 30 professionals including architects, landscape architects and planners working with municipalities, park districts, schools, libraries, the county government or the state. Kline Creek Farm Achieves State Recognition Kline Creek Farm, a facility of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, was recently awarded the Superior Achievement Award by the Illinois Association of Museums for the Farm's Ice Cutting event held each February. The award is given annually to institutions for excellent educational programs and is judged by museum professionals throughout Illinois. The Awards Committee found the event "unique, well-planned and researched, and [was] impressed with the Farm's major safety precautions." The hands-on event re-creates an 1890s ice cutting. Guests actually use authentic, oversized handsaws and a breaker bar to cut 150 lb. blocks of ice from a scored, checkerboard-patterned ice field. Draft horses then haul the ice blocks to the ice shed via bobsled and wagon. Kline Creek Farm is an 1890s living history farmstead dedicated to educating the public about DuPage County's farm life a century ago. Espeseth Retires After Distinguished Career Spanning Four Decades
ation and Park Association, and as the second president of the new Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association after the merger. In 1967 he went to Michigan to help start the Genesee County Park and Recreation Commission and was the Chief of Planning and Construction for a number of years. He served on the board of the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, as a member of the Park Section and of the Michigan Chapter, ASLA. For the University of Illinois, Espeseth was primarily involved with the Extension as the recreation resource specialist with the Office of Recreation and Tourism Development. He helped establish many park districts and assisted scores of communities with recreation projects and programs. He served on the chartering board of the Parks and Natural Resource Management Section of IPRA and as the section's second director. He also served on the board of the IPRA. On the national scene he served as president of the National Society for Park Resources (NSPR) and served a total of 17 years on its board. He served on the NRPA Board of Trustees for six years and was a chartering board member of the National Aquatic Section. He is a registered landscape architect in Illinois and was formerly registered in Nebraska and Michigan. He was a certified leisure professional and served as the president and as a board member of the National Certification Board for NRPA. Parks Director Announces Retirement
Angelo Capulli, director of parks and planning for the Arlington Heights Park District, recently announced his retirement effective December 2, 1995. Capulli joined the district in February 1970 as superintendent of parks. Previously he worked for the Chicago Park District and the parks and recreation department in Evanston. During his 25 years with the Arlington Heights Park District, Capulli has seen his staff grow from ten full-time workers to fifty whose responsibilities include maintaining 17 facilities and 58 parks. With a bachelor's degree from DePaul University in Public Administration, Capulli is also a certified leisure professional and past board member of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association. He serves as past president of the Midwest Institute of Park Executives and has served on National Recreation and Park Association committees. A resident of Arlington Heights, Capulli is a charter member of the morning Rotary Club and was recently named Rotarian of the Year. Capulli has had many accomplishments during his long and distinguished career in the park field both statewide and nationally. He helped make the Arlington Heights Park District a two-time National Gold Medal winner. His long service to his community has contributed significantly to the quality of life in Arlington Heights. Although retired, Capulli looks forward to other professional challenges and to continuing his active volunteer work within the community. •••
Thompson A. Dyke, president of Thompson Dyke & Associates, Ltd., the Northbrook based land use consultancy, was re-elected as vice president of the Midwestern Region of Lambda Alpha International at the 31st Biennial Congress meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, this past October. Lambda Alpha International is an honorary Land Economics Society founded in 1930 at Northwestern University with 25 chapters around the world. ••• The Bolingbrook Park District announces the hiring of Tom Carstens, CLP, as superintendent of recreation. Carstens worked for the Cary Park District for two years as superintendent and the Downers Grove Park District for 13 years prior to that. Carstens has a bachelor's degree in recreation from North Central College in Naperville. He is very active in many IPRA committees, serving the past year as director of the Facilities Section. Carstens will oversee all functions of the recreation department including the operation of the district's new 68,000 square foot community center scheduled to open in 1996. 56 • Illinois Parks & Recreation • January/February 1996 Patricia Skonberg, fitness supervisor at the Morton Grove Park District, has recently been certified as a Health Fitness Instructor by the American College of Sports Medicine. She has served in her full-time position for more than a year and has worked part-time for the district the past 15 years teaching gymnastics, youth fitness classes and tot classes. •••
••• Patrick J. Ryan, CLP, was named executive director of the North Berwyn Park District. Appointed in January 1996, he will oversee administrative operations for the district. Ryan worked for the past 10 years as director of parks and recreation for the Village of Richton Park. He performed his undergraduate work in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at Illinois State University and is currently completing a master's degree in Public Administration at Governors State University. ••• Dates to Note for 1996 February 14-18 - NRPA Mid Year Forum (Washington, D.C.) March 14-15 - Partnerships for Healthy Aging (Matteson) March 20 - Mobilizing Your Community for Youth: Partnerships and Park District Programs that Work (Naperville) April 17 - IAPD Legislative Conference (Springfield) April 25-27 - Gateway Regional At-Risk Youth Colloquium (St. Louis) July 19 - Legislative Awareness Day Golf Outing (Bensenville) August 14 - Park District Conservation Day at the Illinois State Fair (Springfield) October 24-27 - NRPA Congress (Kansas City) November 14 - IAPD Legal Symposium (Oak Brook)
Illinois Parks & Recreation • January/February 1996 • 59 |
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Bob Espeseth recently retired
after serving 22 1/2 years as a faculty member of the Department of
Leisure Studies and the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His professional career
spans more than 40 years beginning
with the Division of State Forests
and Parks, Wisconsin Conservation
Department where he was the chief
of park planning. While in Wisconsin he served as the last president
of the Wisconsin Park and Recreation Society prior to the merger,
which created the National Recre-
The Carol Stream Park District
welcomes Arnie Biondo as its new
executive director. Biondo came to
Carol Stream from Indianapolis,
Indiana, where he spent three years
as a division administrator with the
Indianapolis Parks and Recreation
Department. Biondo was a member of the team that led the nation
in re-inventing Government Parks
and Recreation Services. Biondo
also has experience in Illinois park
districts. He's worked with the
Wheeling Park District and with
Wheaton and Oakbrook Terrace
park districts.
Heidi Sterling joins the staff
of the Northern Suburban Special
Recreation Association (NSSRA)
as a full-time employee in December following a four-month Therapeutic
Recreation internship, working with people with disabilities in
NSSRA programs. She received
her bachelor of science degree in
Therapeutic Recreation from the
University of Iowa in December.
Sterling's responsibilities include
developing and leading programs
for people with disabilities. In partnership with ten area park districts
and two cities, NSSRA offers a variety of recreational programs to persons of all ages with both
mental and physical disabilities.