Champaign, St. Charles and SRACLC Win Gold Medals

The Champaign and St. Charles park districts and the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County (SRACLC) are ranked among the top five park and recreation agencies and special recreation associations in the nation as winners of the prestigious National Gold Medal Award. The awards are presented annually for excellence in park and recreation administration and for outstanding service to the challenged, in cooperation with the National Sporting Goods Association's (NSGA) Sports Foundation and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Winners in each class were selected based upon improvement, service, continuing development, extent of future planning and degree of participant involvement and acceptance by the community. The 1998 Gold Medal winners and the NSGA retail members nominating them are:

City of Long Beach (Ca.) Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine Class I, nominated by Conlin Brothers Sporting Goods

City of Chandler (Az.) Community Services Department Class II, nominated by Big 5 Sporting Goods

CHAMPMGN (Ill) PARK DISTRICT Class III, nominated by Gery & Al's Sporting Goods

ST. CHARLES (Ill.) PARK DISTRICT Class IV nominated by George's Sports Center

Commerce City (Col.) Parks and Recreation Department Class V nominated by Cart Sports

SPECIAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL LAKE COUNTY (SRACLC) Special Recreation, nominated by Martin Imports, Inc.

1998 Gold Medal Finalists - Illinois

Lake County Forest Preserve District Class I nominated by Bass Pro Shops

Bolingbrook Park District Class IV nominated by Palos Sports

Urbana Park District Class IV nominated by Body N' Sole Sports, Inc.

Itasca Park District Class V nominated by Creative Awards

Dundee Township, Skokie and Orland Park Receive NRPA Kudos Awards

Through its Marketing & Communications Kudos Awards Program, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recognizes agencies that best market and communicate the benefits of parks and recreation to the public. The Dundee Township Park District received the Kudos Award for Best Short Film (Class I) promoting the value of recreation. The Village of Orland Park Recreation and Parks Department received the Kudos Award for Best Public Service Announcement (Class I). The Skokie Park District was honored with the Kudos Award for Best Overall Communicator (Class II), which recognizes agencies that best communicate and promote the value of recreation to the public across all mediums of communication.

Oak Park Day Camps First in Nation to Receive ACA Accreditation

In August 1998, the Park District of Oak Park's summer day camps received accreditation from the American Camping Association (ACA). This designation was sought by the park board of commissioners and staff as a way of measuring the level of service being provided by the day camps. The programs were evaluated in the following areas: site, administration, transportation, program and personnel. In order to be accredited, all mandated standards had to be met in each area with an 80% or better approval rating in each area. The district achieved three scores of 100% with the lowest score of 89%. There are more than 2,000 day, resident trip and travel camps accredited in the United States and several foreign countries; however, the Park District of Oak Park is the first park district in the nation to achieve this status.

NEDSRA Receives National Recognition

The Northeast Dupage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA) received the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) 1998 Organization Citation Award. The award, which focuses on the innovative and unique contributions to the field of community-based therapeutic recreation, was presented to NBDSRA for its excellence in service to individuals with disabilities.

"In an attempt to provide an alternative to just 'hanging out,' personnel from NEDSRA developed and implemented Success Through Recreation Improves Values & Education (S.T.RI.VE.)," wrote Steven Castle, director of East Dupage Special Education District, in his letter of recommending NEDSRA for the award. "This program has consistently provided regular alter-school therapeutic recreation activities for our students. Throughout this past year, staff from NEDSRA have proven to be organized, dependable, innovative, cooperative, and energetic." NEDSRA, located in Centennial Park, Addison, assists residents in Addison, Bensenville, Butterfield, Glendale heights, Itasca, Lombard, Medinah, Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park, Wood Dale and York Center.

Gooch Named NACPRO President

Robert "Dan" Gooch, executive director of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County; has been named president of the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO). NACPRO is a professional organization that represents and fosters excellence among county