PEOPLE AND PLACES

Rockford Dedicates Revamped Accessible Playground

Children of all abilities have a completely renovated play area in Rockford's Alpine Park thanks to the generosity from Rockford Park District patrons and such local enterprises as the ARC, Auxxi & Associates, Easter Seals Children's Development Center, Rockford Chariots and the Lions Club of Rockford.

Rockford Park District's Alpine Park Playground uses highly accessible equipment

Dedicated by Rockford Mayor Doug Scott with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in July, the refurbished Alpine Park Universal Playground features equipment that is more accessible to people with disabilities. Barb Baptista una Freund, the district's Community and Therapeutic Recreation Team senior manager, and Mike Pauly, a certified playground inspector and landscape architect, took two years picking out the new equipment. The project was based on criteria implemented by universal design principles, which call for designing products and environments to be used by all people to the greatest extent possible without the need for adaptation, says Pauly.

The original playground was dedicated in 1989 as Alpine Kiwanis Accessible Playground to recognize that service organization's contribution in building the playground. Over the past 14 years, safety standards and regulations—such as the Americans with Disabilities Act—have changed, necessitating the need for the playground upgrade.

Woodridge Park District Waterpark Voted Chicagoland's Best

The viewers of Chicago's ABC-TV/Channel 7 "190 North" program voted Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park Chicagoland's Favorite Waterpark Hot Spot in on online survey conducted this summer. The facility opened in 1997 and offers eight acres of water attractions.

These Cypress Cove visitors spend a hot summer afternoon floating along the Cajun Creek lazy river.

With adjacent wetlands, a Southern Louisiana bayou theme was selected and is carried out through the architecture, landscaping, layout and water attractions. Guests can wade along Cattail Bay, the zero-depth main pool; enjoy the three body slides of Pelican Plunge; cascade down Tabasco Falls tube slide; and float along the 600-foot Cajun Creek lazy river. Other amenities include a kiddie slide, drop slide, diving board, sand play area and a cafe. "We strive to create the feeling of a park inside a pool while making the facility look like it did on opening day," explained Mike Adams, deputy director of the Woodridge Park District. This attention to detail makes Cypress Cove a leader in the waterpark industry. Even so, the most recent award by "190 North" was unexpected. "We were unaware that the show did an online poll," said Karen Hassell, aquatic supervisor for the district. "It is exciting that Cypress Cove was chosen No. 1."

On Tuesday, June 24, "190 North" reporter Michelle Alegria and a camera crew came to Cypress Cove to gather footage and interviews. The program featuring Cypress Cove aired twice in July.

The "190 North" honor adds to Cypress Cove's list of accolades, which include the World Waterpark Association's Wave Review 2002 Brochure Award, the 1999 National Recreation and Park Association Excellence in Aquatics Award, the Illinois Park and Recreation Association 1997 Outstanding Aquatic Facility Award, and the 1997 Daniel L. Flaherty New Aquatic Facility Excellence Award.

IN MEMORIAM Former IAPD President John E. Cassidy John E. "Jack" Cassidy Jr., former president of the IAPD Board of Directors, died June 25 at his home in Peoria. He was 78 years old. Cassidy was a partner in the law firm of Cassidy and Mueller. He graduated from Notre Dame and the University of Illinois Law School. He served in the Navy during World War II. He was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1965 to 1969 and was chosen outstanding freshman legislator. He served as a trustee of the Peoria Park District from 1957 to 1965 and was president of the IAPD Board of Directors in 1962. He is survived by Helen Fagan Cassidy, his wife of 51 years, four daughters, five sons, two sisters, three brothers and 28 grandchildren.

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

Friends Make a Difference at the Oak Park Conservatory Annual attendance at the Oak Park Conservatory has more than quadrupled thanks to the efforts of The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory (FOPCON), which was established in 1986. In partnership with the Park District of Oak Park, FOPCON has been lending a helping hand to further the work of the 74-year-old Conservatory, which displays a collection of more than 3,000 tropical and desert plants from around the world. As a not-for-profit charitable organization, FOPCON helps promote community interest, offers educational opportunities and supports projects that benefit the Conservatory and the 30,000 people who visit each year. Bill Furlong, president emeritus of FOPCON, received a certificate of appreciation for his service (including serving 11 years as FOPCON, president), in ceremony on June 2 at which the Friends also dedicated a bench in his honor. Bill passed away on July 1. Besides organizing numerous public events and publishing visitor brochures and newsletters annually, the friends have also funded a number of capital and program enhancements at the Conservatory over the years. For the past 10 years, for example, the Friends has sponsored a docent education program that provides trained, volunteer plant interpreters for school groups and weekend visitors. In 2000, the Friends raised funds to help construct and furnish the Conservatory Center, a building addition that provides increased public spaces for Conservatory programs and rental opportunities. Last year, they generously double matched a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to finance the renovation of the Conservatory's Fern Room. With a grant from the Oak Park and River Forest Community Foundation, the Friends are currently creating a 30-minute, self-guided audio tour of the Conservatory's plant collection to enrich the public's educational experience while visiting the Conservatory. The Friends has a growing membership of 1,266 area residents— the largest membership organization in Oak Park and River Forest. Together with the Park District of Oak Park, the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory are paving the way for a bright future for this historic and unique facility. For more information, visit the Oak Park Conservatory at www.oakparkparks.com or contact the Friends at fopcon@earthlink.net. About Friends of Illinois Parks Friends of Illinois Parks is a nonprofit organization that strives to involve more citizens statewide as friends in these ways and others. To learn more about Friends of Illinois Parks, call toll-free 1-877-523-4558 or see www.ILparks.org. Tell us about your friends Tell us about friends of your agency and we'll publicize them in this space.

NEDSRA Coach Brings Home Olympic Gold

Beth Corso, a Special Olympics coordinator for the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association, coached the Illinois Special Olympics Volleyball Team to the gold medal at the games held this summer in Ireland.

"Coaching is my passion," says Corso. "To have the opportunity to coach and share my experience with others has always been a dream of mine."

Corso's 12 players were among the more than 7,000 athletes from 160 countries who competed in 14 sports. This year's Special Olympics World Summer Games were the first held outside the U.S.

Hanover Park PD Promotes New Rec Superintendent

Rick Wulbecker was promoted to Superintendent of Recreation for the Hanover Park Park District in June.

Wulbecker went to Illinois State University, graduating with a B.S. in Recreation and Parks Administration. He joined the Hanover Park Park District in 2000 as the Athletic Services Supervisor. He is a member of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, and is a National Youth Sports Coaches Association certified clinician.

He hopes to build on the park district's strong foundation and cultivate the teamwork it requires to have a successful park district. "The park district always runs at full-tilt," he said. "But when we work together as a team, everything seems more manageable."

IPRA Announces Newly Certified Professionals

The following people are newly certified:

• Daniel Deuel, CPRP, Lake Forest Parks & Recreation Department

• Angela C. Fehling, CPRP, Vernon Hills Park District

• David J. LeMar, APRP, Elmhurst Park District

• Nicole A. Marxman, CPRP, Village of Palos Park

• Howard N. Robinson, III, CPRP, North Berwyn Park District

• Steve I. Schapiro, CPRP, Wheeling Park District

• Marlon J. Smith, APRP, Chicago Park District

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

Everybody Wins at IPRA/IAPD/ SRANI Ballgame

This young man is one of the more than 3,000 agency and SRA day campers that celebrated the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act by attending a Schaumburg Flyers game.

More than 3,000 agency and SRA day campers, wearing matching t-shirts in every color of the rainbow, descended on Alexian Field on June 25 as the facility set an all-time attendance record on an afternoon honoring Illinois' Special Recreation Associations. The trip to the AA Schaumburg Flyers baseball game marked the 13th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Bringing together so many people from across the state was no easy task. Heather Weishaar, IPRA's Corporate Sponsorship Manager, worked closely with 2004 IPRA Director-elect Jane Hodgkinson, director of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, to make it a day kids won't forget. Sandy Olson, executive director of the Tri County Special Recreation Association, also helped organize the event, which began when snaking lines of giggling park district campers-interspersed with bus-loads of people with special needs—got an early start, picnicking on hotdogs and other traditional fare.

When the time came for the national anthem, Wheaton's Karilyn Johnson, representing WDSRA, stepped up to the plate to sign the lyrics for the hearing impaired. The Southwest Special Recreation Association picked Brad Ramirez, 17, of Crestwood, to throw out the first pitch. And singers from the Northwest Special Recreation Association sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at the seventh inning stretch.

Whether sitting in the bleachers, on the lawn or in the skybox reserved for officials by the Village of Schaumburg, this pioneering IPRA/IAPD/SRANI event proved a remarkable opportunity to salute an important milestone in history. But the fans-whether they arrived in sneakers or pennant-trimmed wheel-chairs-were the true recipients of the day's goodwill. To top it off, the home team Schaumburg Flyers blanked the Lincoln Nebraska Salt Dogs 3 to 0 before a crowd of 7,624.

Streamwood PD hires new director

The Streamwood Park District has hired Diane McCray, CPRP, as its new Director of Parks and Recreation, and Museum. With more than 20 years of experience in parks and recreation, McCray has served as the Director for the Roselle Park District for over nine years. She recently earned her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. She received the Model Administrator Award, Academic Scholar Award and the Distinguished Manuscript Award from NIU. She is a member of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the National Recreation and Park Association.

IAPD's Legislative Conference 2003 educates 395

This April, 395 IAPD and IPRA members and friends attended the annual legislative conference in Springfield, where they had the chance to learn how to become better advocates for parks and recreation.

At the popular legislative reception are:

1. Sen. Wendell Jones (R-27), Mike Gilfillan of the Arlington Heights Park District, Bonnie Noble of the Peoria Park District and Rep. Sydney Mathias (R-53).

2. Tom White of the Bartlett Park District, Sen. Kathleen Wojcik (R-28), Larry Wheeler of the Hanover Park District and Nancy Wroblewski of the Schaumburg Park District.

3. Ed Cotrell of the Northfield Park District, Rep. Karen May (D-58) and Oscar Dahl of Northbrook Park District.

4. Fred Hohnke of the Woodridge Park District and Rep. Patricia Bellock (R-47).

5. Zane Smith of the Winnetka Park District, Rep. Julie Hamos (D-18) and Mary Garrison of the Winnetko Park District.

6. A guest with Larry Banks of the Clyde Park District of Cicero, Rep. Frank Aguilar (R-24), Dennis Skidmore of the Vernon Hills Park District and Sandy Gbur of the Western Suburban SRA.

7. Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-57), Clint Hull of the Saint Charles Park District and Oscar Dahl of Northbrook Park District.

8. A guest with Bob Whisler of the Arlington Heights Park District and Sen. Dave Sullivan (R-33).

9. Chip Collis of the Elmhurst Park District, Rep. Carole Pankau (R-45), Gina Mellenthin of the Bensenville Park District and Don Jessen of the Addison Park District.

10. Christine Gentes of the Round Lake Area Park District, Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis (R-31) and Jeff Nehila of the Round Lake Area Park District.

11. Larry Wheeler of the Hanover Park District and guest with Rep. Terry Parke (R-44), Tom White of the Bartlett Park District and Nancy Wroblewski of the Schaumburg Park District.

12. Ray Peterson of the Macomb Park District, Rep. Richard Myers (R-94) and Lois Nickson of the Macomb Park District.

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