FROM THE EDITOR

Caring for the environment is a lot like creating an issue of Illinois Parks & Recreation: it takes dedication, creativity, and most of all teamwork.

I was given the opportunity to act as interim editor, and put together this issue of our wonderful magazine. I thought, "How hard can it be?" The Joint Editorial Committee, an extremely talented group, is there for support, and many experienced authors had already penned articles, just waiting to be edited and placed.

One of my biggest challenges was writing this. Guidelines told me to "write something pithy." Hmm, pithy. Now, I've always considered myself somewhat of a word smith, but this one sent me running to my Webster's II New College Dictionary.

The first meaning read, "The soft, spongelike substance in the center of stems and branches of most vascular plants." That can't be the right one. How about, "The most central and material part." I think we're getting closer. Finally, "Pointedly meaningful." That's the one!

If anything, this issue of Illinois Parks & Recreation is meaningful. We all know that we need to save the environment by recycling and car pooling, but to quote Judy Beck in her message on page 34, "Ho Hum. Been there, done that." There are exciting things going on out there! Did you know that the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has an environmentally-friendly fleet of alternative fuel vehicles? Flip to page 26 to learn more about how their solution to pollution will benefit the district with a net savings of nearly $200,000.

Page 22 discusses wetland restoration. Just like putting together a magazine, this takes advance planning and preparation. Finally, there is an informative piece on page 30 about environmental coalitions. The article highlights advantages of partnering with others to not only reach your goals, but also to rise above them and accomplish more than you ever dreamed.

Partnering with others? I took their advice. This magazine is not a one-person job... it's a culmination of unbelievable talent. Those in the field who put down in words what so many of us preach, and those behind the scenes, fixing computer glitches, scanning photos, proofreading articles and creating promotional ads. Sue Beard, Bill Bodine, John Comerlo, Cindy Deiters, Ted Flickinger, Angle Howard, Sherri Khile, Lynn McClure, Peter Murphy, Shannon Sartain, and even our new publications director, Rodd Whelpley as well as the entire IPRA staff should be commended on a job well done. Happy reading!

BOBBIE JO HILL
Interim Editor

Illinois Parks & Recreation May/June 2003

How to Reach Us OFFICES 217.523.4554 FAX 217.523.4273 E-MAIL rwhelpley@ILparks.org WORLD WIDE WEB www.ILparks.org MAIL 211 East Monroe Street Springfield, Illinois 62701-1186 Managing Editor TED FLICKINGER, President/Chief Executive Officer, IAPD Interim Editor BOBBIE JO HILL, Public Relations Specialist Four-color Graphic Design SHANI GOSS Goss Graphic Design Advertising Sales Representative DONNA MASSEY IAPD/IPRA Sales Office 1926 Waukegan Road, Suite 1 Glenview, IL 60025-1770 847.657.6700 donnam@tcag.com JOINT EDITORIAL COMMITTEE IAPD Representatives STANLEY P. BUDZINSKI Co-chair Peoria Park District ANN AUSTIN Rock Island Park and Recreation Department THOMAS ERNST Quincy Park District JULIUS PATTERSON Harvey Park District PENNY RANDEL Northbrook Park District MARY WRIGHT Naperville Park District MARY WRIGHTNaperville Park District IPRA Representatives JAMES ROGERS, CPRP Co-chair Elmhurst Park District CHERYL CRISMAN, CPRP Plainfield Township Park District MIKE DOTY, CPRP ELSA FISCHER Downers Grove Park District CARRIE KARL, CPRP Villa Park Recreation Department WILLIAM G. McADAM, CPRP Plainfield Township Park District

Illinois Association of Park Districts DENNIS FLANAGIN Chair Lan-Oak Park District CLINT HULL Chair-elect St. Charles Park District MARY GARRISON Immediate Past Chair Winnetka Park District DAVID MASON Vice Chair DeKalb Park District PAMELA O. NEWTON Vice Chair Lake County Forest Preserve District WILLIS "BILL" LOGAN Treasurer Springfield Park District JIM PETKUS Sergeam-at-Arms Oak Forest Park District ANN AUSTIN Rock Island Park and Recreation Department STANLEY P BUDZINSKI Peoria Park District RONALD P. EMERY Harrisburg Park District THOMAS E. ERNST Qincy Park District CHRISTINE GARRY Barrington Park District KEN GOFF Homewood Flossmoor Park District MILLIE KIETH Freeport Park District MIKE KROST Chillicothe Park District COLETTE M. KUBIESA Elmhurst Park District KAREN McCLURE Bourbonnais Township Park District MARIA N. SALDANA Chicago 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 Business Manager 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 RODD WHELPLEY Publications Director LYNN McCLURE Public Relations Director PETER M. MURPHY, CAE General Counsel SHANNON SARTAIN Legal Secretary

Illinois Park and Recreation Association ELIZABETH KESSLER, CPRP President-elect Skokie Park District JANE HODGKINSON, CPRP Chairsperson-elect WDSRA JILL BARTHOLOMEW, CPRP immediate Past President Homewood Flossmoor Park District JILL BARTHOLOMEW, CPRP President Homewood Flossmoor Park District MICHAEL J. BENARD, CPRP Hanover Park Park District AMY CHARLESWORTH, CPRP Rolling Meadows Park District TRACEY M. CRAWFORD, CPRP, CTRS NSSRA MIKE DOTY, CPRP Sycamore Park District LORI L. MAGEE APRP Buffalo Grove Park District MARY MAROUN Illinois State University WILLIAM G. McADAM, CPRP Plainfield Township Park District KATHY S. OCHROMOWICZ, CPRP Wheaton Park District SANDRA M. OLSON, CPRP, CTRS Tri County Special Recreation Assn. LORIKAY PADEN, 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 D. TOOHEY, CPRP Wheaton Park District PHILLIP R. YODER, CPRP Northbrook 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 THOMAS G. FORD Deputy Chief Administrator GAIL COHEN Communications and Marketing Manager DIANE FRANDSEN Receptionist SUE GAGER, CPRP Membership Services Manager SHEILA LOWERY Conference/Projects Manager POLLY MCKEE Registrar LORRAINE MOLYNEUX Business Manager LESLIE ORR Executive Secretary FALINE RAMSEY Receptionist LORI KAROLE SHOOK Educational Services Manager HEATHER WEISHAAR Corporate Relations 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 Park and Recreation Association. All rights reserved. Reprints of articles in whole or in part without prior written permission are prohibited.

printed on recycled paper

Interim Editor 4 Illinois Parks and Recreation