FROM THE EDITOR

A new year, a new look for Illinois Parks & Recreation.

This issue introduces a fresh direction in the look of our statewide magazine with the assistance of Goss Graphic Design. At long last, the magazine features four-color photography and artwork, which truly is the best way to illustrate the work of Illinois park districts and forest preserves.

Goss Graphic Design is a Decatur-based ad agency that has made a name for itself over the past six years by producing award-winning work for local clients such as Millikin University, Kirkland Fine Arts Center, Soy Capital Bank and Decatur Magazine, as well as numerous clients nationwide. To see samples of their work online, go to www.gossgrfx.com.

The members of the IAPD/IPRA Editorial Committee for Illinois Parks & Recreation magazine determined that "skate parks" would make the best four-color splash for the new look's debut special focus. The issues that surround the oftentimes contentious skate park project (for example, NIMBYs and BANANAs) are addressed here.

Our lead story by TD&A shares how the a skate park development project is more manageable when the public—especially the park user—is involved from the get-go.

The legal experts from PDRMA offer advice and useful sample forms to reduce skate park liability exposures.

Even our annual "Grants Outlook," prepared by grant administrators from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, is new and improved. Eight pages of grant information, frequently asked questions, and advice for applications!

Tell us what you think of the new look. Our resolve to make the publication better for readers is ongoing and not just something that happens around the New Year.

ANN M. LONDRIGAN

Editor

Illinois Parks & Recreation January/February 2002

How to Reach Us OFFICES 217.523.4554 FAX 217.523.4273 E-MAIL alondri9an@ILparks.org WORLD WIDE WEB www.ILparks.org MAIL 211 East Monroe Street Springfield, Illinois 62701-1186 Managing Editor TED FLICKINGER, Executive Director, IAPD Editor ANN M. LONDRIGAN, Publications Director, IAPD Four-color Graphic Design SHANI GOSS Goss Graphic Design Advertising Sales Representative DONNA MASSEY 1926 Waukegan Road, Suite 1 Glenview, IL 60025-1770 847.657.6700 JOINT PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE IAPD Representatives STANLEY P. BUDZINSKI Co-chair Peoria Park District THOMAS ERNST Quincy Park District MARY E. KIES Elmhurst Park District JULIUS PATTERSON Harvey Park District PENNY RANDEL Northbrook Park District MARY WRIGHT Naperville Park District IPRA Representatives JAMES ROGERS, CPRP Elmhurst Park District CHERYL CRISMAN, CPRP Plainfield Township Park District MIKE DOTY, CPRP WILLIAM G. McADAM, CPRP Plainfield Township Pork District JAMES ROGERS, CPRP Elmhurst Park District MICHAEL SLETTEN, CPRP Bloomingdale Park District

Illinois Association of Park Districts MARY GARRISON President Winnetka Park District DENNIS FLANAGIN President-elect Lan-Oak Park District ROGER FLOREY Immediate Past President Rolling Meadows Park District CLINT HULL Vice President St. Charles Park District DAVID MASON Vice President DeKalb Park District PAMELA O. NEWTON Vice President Lake County Forest Preserve District WILLIS "BILL" LOGAN Treasurer Springfield Park District PAMELA F. BAX Sergeam-at-Arms Country Club Hills Park District STANLEY P BUDZINSKI Peoria Park District KEVIN M. DOLAN Mundelein Park and Recreation District RONALD P. EMERY Harrisburg Park District THOMAS E. ERNST Quincy Park District MILLIE KIETH Freeport Park District MIKE KROST Chillicothe Park District COLETTE M. KUBIESA Elmhurst Park District KAREN McCLURE Bourbonnais Township Park District JAMES L. SHOOK Round Lake Area Park District SCOTT TRIPHAN Horfman Estates Park District IAPD Headquarters 211 East Monroe Street Springfield, IL 62701-1186 217.523.4554 www.lLparks.org TED FLICKINGER, Ph.D., CPRP, CAE Executive Director SUE BEARD, CMP Educational Services Director BILL G. BODINE JOHN W. COMERIO, CPRP Development Director CINDY DEITERS Marketing Specialist BOBBIE JO HILL Public Relations Specialist ANGIE M. HOWARD Communications Director SHERRI KHILE Executive Secretary ANN M. LONDRIGAN Publications Director LYNN McCLURE Public Relations Director PETER M. MURPHY, CAE General Counsel SHANNON SARTAIN Legal Secretary

Illinois Park and Recreation Association JILL BARTHOLOMEW, CPRP President Homewood Flossmoor Park District ELIZABETH KESSLER, CPRP President-elect Skokie Park District MICHAEL G. CLARK, CPRP Immediate Past President Batavia Park District TRACY ALDEN, CPRP Vestern Springs Recreation Department MICHAEL J. BENARD, CPRP Hanover Park Park District GEORGE H. BRYANT, CPRP Godfrey Parks and Recreation JOSEPH C. DeLUCE, CPRP Champaign Park District MIKE DOTY, CPRP Sycamore Park District JANE HODGKINSON, CPRP WDSRA LORI L. MAGEE APRP Buffalo Grove Park District WILLIAM G. McADAM, CPRP Plainfield Township Park District RON OESTREICH, CPRP Bolingbrook Park District SANDRA M. OLSON, CPRP, CTRS Tri County Special Recreation Assn. JOSEPH R. POTTS, CPRP Urbana Park District MARK W. PURCELL, CPRP Palos Heights Recreation Department MARGARET RESNICK, CPRP Bolingbrook Park District JAMES M. REUTER, CPRP Village of South Elgin Recreation Department MICHAEL SLETTEN, CPRP Bloomingdale Park District MICHAEL D. TOOHEY, CPRP Wheaton Park District LEE A. VOLPE, CPRP Winnetka Park District IPRA Headquarters 106 N Schmale Road Carol Stream, IL 60188 630.752.0141 www.il-ipra.org WILLIAM J. M. WALD, CPRP Chief Executive Officer GAIL COHEN Communications and Marketing Manager BETTY CORNISH Receptionist THOMAS G. FORD Deputy Chief Administrator SUE GAGER, CPRP Membership Services Manager HEATHER GAUWITZ Coordinator of Sponsorship and Special Projects SHEILA LOWERY Conference/Projects Manager POLLY MCKEE Registar Registrar LORRAINE MOLYNEUX Business Manager DOLORES PELLICANE Receptionist LORI KAROLE SHOOK Educational Services Manager

Illinois Parks and Recreation

ISSN 0019-21551 is published bimonthly at 211 E.Monroe Street, Springfield, Illinois, by the Illinois Associotion of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Annual subscription rates: $6 for IAPO/IPRA members; $25 for non-members; $30 foreign; $20 educational institutions. Single copies: $2 members; $5 nonmembers. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, Illinois. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL62701-1186. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the official views of the IAPD/IPRA, Likewise, the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or services offered. Members of the IAPD and the IPRA and other interested persons are encouraged to submit articles and illustrative photos for possible publication in the magazine. Send for manuscript guidelines and deadline dates: Editor, Illinois Parks & Recreation, 211 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701 -1186,217.523.4554, alondrigan@ILparks,org, www.lLparks.org

Copyright by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Pork and Recreation Association. All rights reserved. Reprints of articles in whole or in part without prior written permission are prohibited.

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