Features
Designing "Totally Awesome" Skate Parks 15
Advice for districts looking to provide this popular recreational venue
— by R. Gordon Leedy, Jr.
Skating on Thin Ice 18
PDRMA provides a formula for calculating safe ice thickness
— by Dr. Kevin Marks
Grants Outlook 1998 28a
— by Ron Hallberg. CLP
Special Focus
Fitness Cities 22
Schaumburg and Geneseo are fitness leaders in the nation
— interviews by IP&R
Healthy Community 26
Naperville has its own "Healthy People 2000" initiative
— by Chris Rambke
Illinois' Coalition for Physical Activity 27
An agenda for promoting physical activity and health

Creating Lifetime Fitness Club Members 29
10 tips to make your patrons say "Wow!"
— by Shown D. Ford and Susan Nance
Satisfying the Over-50 Fitness Market 31
The drive to play competitive sports doesn't quit at age 50
— by Jason Herbster

In-line skating and in-line hockey are the fastest growing sports in the country. Some skaters compete, others "grind edges" and still others choose in-line skating for a cardiovascular workout. Many districts now are considering providing skate parks in their communities. On page 15 you'll find design advice and resources. Photograph courtesy of Rollerblade In-line Hockey.

Departments
From the Editor 4
Across the Board 6
Board meetings...NOT boring meetings
Eye on the Profession 8
The changing face of parks and recreation
Partnerships 10
Retention pond transforms into a recreational area
Statehouse Insider 12
New year brings hotly contested elections, plus OSIAD grants
Trend Watch 34
The Pump It Up era bids "Auld Lange Syne"
Mixed Media 36
Get the message about proper grammar, plus newsmakers
Our Natural Resources 39
Snowmobiling, plus DNR newsbriefs
People and Places 45