FROM THE EDITOR
Illinois Parks Recreation is summer dreaming a little
early this year.
This, the annual aquatics issue was bumped up from
May/June to January/February on purpose because
aquatic facility managers and other decision makers are
thinking about the water business well before Memorial
Day weekend.
"First it was zero depth, then water slides and drop
slides and water play features," says Ray Morrill about
trends in aquatic facility design.
"Lazy rivers are the latest craze."
Morrill is the superintendent of recreation for the
Wheaton Park District and president-elect of the National Recreation and Park Association's Aquatic Section.
He thought it would be a good idea for IP&R to ask
experts in aquatic facility design a question on the minds
of many: "What's Next?"
So we did, and we heard about kayaking, obstacle
water courses, Olympic water fountain features, bubble
couches and laminar flow, (See page 16.)
Therapy pools, too, are becoming more popular as
the senior population grows and as aquatic therapy becomes more accessible for people with special needs. (See
page 23.)
In this issue we also take a long look at inrernships, the
starting point for young professionals—the future of
the parks and recreation field.
Research reveals the number and quality of internships at Illinois park and recreation agencies (page 27);
Susan Balling, CLP, of the Northeast DuPage Special
Recreation Association shares how to develop important
professional skills through specific projects for interns
(page 31); and, finally, we hear directly from students
about their views on what makes a successful internship
program (page 33).
And, the final answer to your grants-related questions
can be found in IP&R's "Grants Outlook 2000," compiled by Ron Hallberg, CLP, of the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources (page 35). You could earn some of
the millions of dollars available through programs such
as OLT, OSLAD, C2000 and TEA-21 for your agency's
important open space, trail and park projects.
Good luck and know that IP&R will do its part—in
this deep freeze—to keep things warm with summer
ideas. The golf issue is next!
ANN M. LONDRIGAN
Editor
4 | Illinois Parks and Recreation