ARE YOU ON BOARD?

Dr. Ted Flickinger IAPD Executive Director Public parks and recreation facilities deal with the public at-large, with seniors, the disabled, disadvantaged youth--not just those who can afford memberships in the high-end, spa-oriented facilities the likes of Lifetime Fitness.

No doubt you've heard or read about the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association's (IHRSA) aggressive political action against referendums for public recreation facilities. The NRPA and IAPD have reported on the organization's campaigns in Colorado, Ohio and other states.

Last March, IHRSA funded an anti-referendum movement against the Bloomingdale Park District. The district ultimately lost its $14,750,000 bond referendum to fund a new community center and upgrade its 30-year-old pool and a dilapidated maintenance facility. A similar IHRSA attack on the Dundee Township Park District recreation center referendum took place in April of 2001.

IHRSA's tactics are not subtle. They're forceful and expensive on behalf of its members, which are privately owned health and fitness clubs, gyms, spas and sports clubs. Based in Boston, IHRSA bills itself as a not-for-profit trade association with a mission to "grow, protect and promote the industry." One of its protection measures is The Fund, which provides money to IHRSA members—up to $20,000 and some times more—for costs associated with a legal or legislative battle, such as lobbying and public relations professionals, printing and mailing materials.

In Dundee Township, IHRSA reportedly spent $29,000 to defeat the park district referendum. In Bloomingdale, The Fund paid at least a reported $15,000 for a series of full-page anti-referendum ads in the Daily Herald and the Bloomingdale Press as well as several mailings to Bloomingdale residents. All the printed materials raised questions about the financial stability of government-run facilities and stressed the emotional issue of increasing taxes. In both cases, the attacks came in the final weeks of the referendum campaigns, leaving the park districts with little time to effectively counter false accusations.

According to Lori Noonan, president of the Bloomingdale Park District board of commissioners, the district had spent two years in preparation for its referendum. It analyzed its waiting lists and underserved programs. It held public meetings and design team meetings. It was aware of IHRSA because its representatives attended the public meetings to gather information.

"Going into the referendum we were advised that this was a national movement," says Noonan.

"Their ads raised questions about our park district's business practices and we tried to respond, but we're a governmental agency and we can't spend money on certain things in an election. Our fundraising (about $3,500) had been allocated for certain expenses and we couldn't gear-up to respond."

The IHRSA ads were paid for by the "Committee Against Excessive Taxes." The sole officer registered at the Illinois State Board of Elections under the committee is Jeff Stokes, general manager of Lifetime Fitness' Bloomingdale facility, which opened in February of 2001 and charges $1,008 for a one-year individual Sports Membership.

Tell me how all residents of Bloomingdale can afford to pay for the kind of fitness experience marketed by Lifetime Fitness with its state-of-the-art equipment, banks of televisions, spas, personal trainers and tanning salon?

It always has been the mission of public community centers and recreation facilities to be affordable. To be family-oriented. To be

6 Illinois Parks and Recreation

BOARDMANSHIP INSIGHTS

cooperative. Many park districts share their facilities in partnership agreements with other local governments and hospitals, corporations and nonprofits such as the YMCA.

In Rockford, the park district and the YMCA jointly run programs in disadvantaged neighborhoods. In Arlington Heights, the park district and a school district co-financed the construction of an indoor swim center so residents could use it and high school swim teams could train and compete there. Homewood Flossmoor Park District partnered with a leading hospital in the area to renovate and upgrade a fitness and wellness center for joint use.

In my opinion, physical fitness is a big part of recreation for all people to enjoy. President Bush reinvigorated the fitness message on June 20 when he launched his HealtherUS initiative with a call for all Americans to "be physically active every day."

Public parks and recreation facilities deal with the public-at-large, with seniors, the disabled, disadvantaged youth—not just those who can afford memberships in the high-end, spa-oriented facilities the likes of Lifetime Fitness. There certainly is room for both in Bloomingdale, Dundee Township, and throughout Illinois and the nation.

This message is the gist of Andrew Cohen's "Good Business" article in the June 2002 issue of Athletic Business magazine (see quote above and www.athleticbusiness.com). IAPD has written a letter to the editor (at right) in support of Cohen's commentary and action in "severing ties" between Athletic Business and IHRSA. IAPD's letter will appear in the August issue along with many others the magazine received. IHRSA's response appears in the July issue.

Bottom line, IHRSA's Fund and political action committee—as they heavy spend to "protect" private clubs and mislead the public—are detriments to the quality of life for community residents. IAPD is working to meet head-on IHRSA's unfair practices. We are open to suggestions from the IAPD membership and to dialogue with leadership from IHRSA regarding this issue. •

June 19, 2002

Dear Andy,

Your editorial in the June issue of Athletic Business was inspiring. Many of the 354 park district and municipal park departments that belong to the Illinois Association of Park Districts operate recreation and fitness centers in their communities. These fitness centers have not only served the general public, but also helped countless seniors, developmentally disabled, and other special populations become healthier and happier people. Young people who are introduced to entry-level fitness equipment at park district recreation centers often move on to become health club members as adults. Unfortunately, IHRSA's political action is conveying false information about these facilities and misleading the public.

Many new public facilities such as community and fitness centers are possible only through a successful local referendum. IHRSA's anti-referenda campaigns waged in the Chicago suburbs have prompted our association to form a special task force to combat this negative publicity. Frankly we would rather use our resources to enhance our members' facilities and programs so that we can better serve the people of Illinois. But until IHRSA understands that there is room for everyone in a community, the public will suffer.

Sincerely,

Ted Flickinger, Ph.D.
IAPD Executive Director

July/August 2002 7