Features
Who's Transporting the Kids?    19
Protect your district from liability issues before an accident
— by Robert W. Rolek, Esq. and Darcy L. Proctor, Esq.

2003 Conference Preview    21
What's new and what's fun for the 2003 IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference where "Together We Serve"
Special Focus
The Calling    24
A young professional shares his thoughts on the changing face of parks and recreation, plus seasoned commissioners and professionals consider "What's Changed?"
— by Michael J. McNicholas, CTRS

Special Circumstances     30
Is the SRA boom of the '70s and '80s headed for a bust?
— by John N. McGovern

Antiquated Boundaries    36
Three park districts in the northwest suburbs no longer use the term "non-resident"
— by Debbie Carlson, CPRP

Welcome, fall! On the cover, courtesy of the Decatur Park District, is a photograph of teens Drew McClure and Phillip Washington of Decatur, biking along on a prairie grass bordered stretch of the six-mile Fairview Park to Rock Springs Park Trail. The trail links the Macon County Conservation Districts Rock Springs Environmental Center and Decatur's popular Fairview Park with spurs to two additional parks in Decatur's west end neighborhood. The trail was funded in part by a series of grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Transportation. Photo by Dennis Magee.

Departments

From the Editor 4

Are You on Board? 6
Board/executive expectations

Eye on the Profession 8
Helping us heal...preparing the future

Partnerships 11
A wireless solution saves money in Buffalo Grove

Statehouse Insider 14
Youth license plate signed into law

Mixed Media 39
Communicating in a crisis, part 2

Our Natural Resources 41
Animal tracks, plus IDNR newsbriefs

People and Places 47
Scenes from Awareness Days and the Legislative Golf Outing