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PEOPLE AND PLACES
NRPA Great Lakes Regional Director Retires
As director of the NRPA Great Lakes Region, Johnson increased the region's membership from 3,800 to 6,300, created and conducted the NRPA National Forum on Marketing Leisure Services, National Forum of Community-Based Special Recreation Programs, NSPR Maintenance Management School and Recreation Programming Forum. He was inducted into the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in 1996. Johnson cites the creation and development of the National Aquatic Section, now the National Aquatic Branch, and the subsequent presentation of the annual NRPA National Aquatic Conference, now in its 19th year, as a highlight of his career. For the last 20 years, Johnson coordinated the applications and judging of the prestigious National Gold Medal Award Program for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Prior to his tenure at NRPA, Johnson served for 21 years as the executive director of four Chicagoland park districts: Cary, Glencoe, Mt. Prospect and Naperville. Johnson earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. He has served on the University's Department of Leisure Services Advisory Board for nine years. PARKS & Illinois RECREATION
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Former DNR Chief Picked as Forest Preserve Executive Director
Manning, who was the director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) from 1995 until 2003, comes to the forest preserve after a brief tenure as the director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. During his career at IDNR, Manning was active in land acquisition and spearheaded public ownership of the 19,000-acre Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie near Joliet and the 15,600-acre Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in central Illinois. He also helped win approval for the state habitat stamp and the Illinois environmental license plate. He holds bachelor's degrees in biology and zoology and a master's degree in zoology, all from Eastern Illinois University. He has earned numerous environmental and outdoor recreation awards, including the Gladys Levis Alien Award, the Ducks Unlimited 2000 Wetland Conservation Award and the Conservation 2000 Ecosystems Program Award.
Des Plaines Park District Appoints New Executive Director
Hecker replaces Dave Markworth, who retired on June 20, following a 34-year career with the district. Markworth began his career working part time for the district in 1961 during the summer months while in college. After finishing college at Valparaiso University, he earned his master's degree in parks and recreation administration from Indiana University in 1966. He spent three years as a commissioned officer in the military. In 1969, he returned to Des Plaines as the superintendent of recreation. He was promoted to director in June 1976. Under his direction, the district renovated the Rand Park Swimming Pool in 1983, making Des Plaines was the first community in the country to own and operate a large waterslide complex. The district also developed the Prairie Lakes Community Center, the Mountain View Mine Adventures Golf Course, and the Golf Center, a 3-tiered, year-round driving range with automated tees and a 9-hole, par 3, lighted golf course. 96 ¦ Illinois Parks and Recreation PEOPLE AND PLACES
IP&R Announces 2004 Editorial Calendar, New Ad Reps
Businesses that want to achieve the benefits of advertising in the magazine or the LAPD/IPBA Directory and Buyers' Guide should contact the magazine's new advertising representatives:
Beth Saltz
or
Jim Oestmann
at
IAPD Honors Chicago Mayor
IAPD President and CEO Ted Flickinger (left) and IAPD Chair Dennis Flanagin (right) present Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (center) with an award honoring his leadership and his commitment to the beautification of the city, its parks and open spaces. The Chicago Park District manages more than 220 facilities, 7,300 acres of parkland, 552 parks, 33 beaches, nine museums, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs throughout Chicago. Flickinger and Flanagin met with the mayor in his office in August.
December / January 2004 ¦ 97 PEOPLE AND PLACES
"Fair" Thee Well
The nonstop activity began with an opening ceremony featuring IAPD, IPRA and IDNR dignitaries, Seemore the Eagle and the Decatur Park Singers. Orchestras, choirs, dance squads, bands and theater groups entertained fairgoers. Glenview and Decatur exhibited reptiles and other fascinating creatures in Conservation World. The Park Play Station offered free, hands-on children's activities thanks to the Springfield Park District's Funshop, Preschool in the Park and Target-Springfield. More than 300 children made nature bookmarks, blew bubbles, played in the rice and bean pool and designed T-shirts. To make the day sweeter, the Hershey's Kissmobile stopped by. The giant vehicle shaped like Hershey's kisses came equipped with games, music and, of course, chocolate.
Another popular "hands-on" activity was the Illinois State Fair's "Moo Moo Classic." Park District Conservation Day representatives have participated in this milking contest for the past few years. This year's team: Dennis Flanagin, Mary Garrison, Millie Keith, Elizabeth Kessler, and Ted Flickinger "pulled together" to place second, falling to the 4-H team but beating the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The day ended with a showcase of the top three winners of IPRA's "Illinois State Teen Battle of the Bands" competition. American Standard, Fifth Wall and Twisting Roses capped the evening with outstanding performances. Hats off to the many commissioners, IAPD and IPRA board members and staff who handed out whiz rings, inflated balloons, coordinated stage entertainment and greeted fairgoers. The only thing higher than the temperature that day was the park and recreation spirit!
Bolingbrook Rakes in Awards
Sponsored by NRPA's American Park and Recreation Society, the Healthy Community Award honors a city or recreation agency that positively impacts health, wellness and fitness on the local, state and national level. The district picked up the Healthy Community Award — along with honors for being the nation's best overall communicator and having the best web site — at the NRPA Congress in St. Louis this October.
IPRA Announces Newly Certified Professionals
Carlo J. Capalbo, CPRP, Streamwood Park District Cynthia L. Copenhaver, APRP, South Holland Parks and Recreation Matthew Corso, CPRP, NSSRA Laura C. Guttman, CPRP, Elmhurst Park District Charles E. Miller, APRP, Evanston Parks/Forestry and Recreation Shelly Shipley, APRP, Granite City Park District Barbara Wells, CPRP, Bloomington Parks & Recreation
New Rec Superintendent at Wood Dale
Correction
98 ¦ Illinois Parks and Recreation PEOPLE AND PLACES
Pleasant Dale Park District Earns 2003 Youth Sports Award
Lake in the Hills Welcomes New Rec Superintendent
DuPage Forest Preserve Hires New Golf Director
Kelly has a bachelor's degree in social science from Michigan State University and is a graduate of the Golf Management School at the National Golf Foundation in Wheeling, West Virginia. At the forest preserve, he will plan, administer and market the amenities of the agency's three public courses and related facilities. The preserve operates the 18-hole Oak Meadows Golf Club & Banquet in Addison, the 27-hole Maple Meadows Golf Club in Wood Dale and the nine-hole Green Meadows in Westmont.
New Managers Step in at Pleasant Dale
Mary Crout joined the Pleasant Dale Park District as the assistant facility' manager for the Chalet. Crout will oversee facility programming and front desk operations. She received her bachelor's degree in recreation administration from the University of St. Francis in Recreation Administration. Previously she worked for Matteson Parks and Recreation, Oak Lawn Park District, Orland Park and Chicago Ridge Park District. Crout was elected in April 2003 to the Board of Commissioners at the Chicago Ridge Park District. She is an active member of South Suburban Parks and Recreation. She is a PPRP and also a member of IPRA.
Lisle, Lincolnwood Set for New Waterparks
In Lisle, the new outdoor facility will feature a large zero-edge leisure pool; a 25-yard, six-lane lap pool; two waterslides with a plunge pool; and a "waterworks" pool with two drop-slides and various water-play features. A zero-edge "kiddy" pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a teen "spray play" feature and two waterfalls in existing rockwork will also be constructed. The planned "waterworks" pool will have a 12-foot-deep "deep hopper," as well as a "climbing net" situated above a floating "sea monster" character. A children's sand play area, a raised spectator deck, a new bathhouse, a new concession facility, an expanded parking area, a sun hill and various shade elements are also being added. The new Lincolnwood pool will have a 50-meter, six-lane lap pool; a zero-edge children's pool; a 16-foot-deep diving "hopper"; a new concession building; and an outdoor concession deck. Construction management for both projects is being provided by Williams Development Ltd., which is affiliated with Williams Architects in Carol Stream, the architecture firm that designed the new facilities.
New hires at the Skokie Park District
This summer Fouzia Kahn was promoted to Childcare Services Manager for the Skokie Park District. Her duties include managing the year-round, full-time childcare program at the Tot Learning Center and overall operations of the center. Khan previously coordinated the district's "Skokie's Place for All Children in Extended care" (the SPACE program), a before- and after-school childcare program held at Skokie Elementary Public Schools, and supervised summer camp for school-age children. Khan received her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Osmania University in India and is pursuing her master's degree in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy at National-Louis University, Evanston. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC).
Christine BIakey was hired as Assistant Manager for the Skokie Park District's Fitness First! health club. She assists with the daily operations of the center; supervises member services, group exercise, and other fitness professionals and personal trainers; and is responsible for program development and the coordination of current fitness programs. Blakey was previously employed as a certified athletic trainer at Glenbrook South High School and as a personal trainer at Condell Medical Center's Centre Club. She has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master's degree in therapeutic kinesiology and athletic training from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Blakey is an NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer.
Lake County Forest Preserve Site Cited as Excellent
The new district web site was launched in April 2002 after a complete redesign. The new site greatly expands previous forest preserve online offerings and was created with eventual e-commerce components in mind. Crucial to the web site's effectiveness is a sophisticated behind-the-scenes administrative tool. A hidden administrator interface allows staff from all departments to enter and update content without needing to learn web programming or other technical skills. Forest preserve rangers post trail closings, winter sports conditions and other important "in-the-field" information. Natural resource staff enter daily announcements about controlled burns taking place during spring and fall. New program sections can be added to the online calendar directly by the front desk staff who handle program reservations. In engineering the new site, the district employed a professional web design firm, duoDesign, of Chicago. The web site had nearly 500,000 page views its first year. IAPD Friends Golf Tour Aids Scholarship, After-School Programs
More than 250 golfers participated in the second annual 2003 IAPD Summer Golf Tour, which helped to fund scholarships and after-school programs. Hosts for this year's events were: Prairie Bluff Public Golf Club, Lockport Township Park District; Park Hills Golf Club, Freeport Park District; Shepherd's Crook Golf Course, Zion Park District; Sportsman's Country Club, Northbrook Park District. All net proceeds of this Friends of Illinois Parks' event help fund research, the Don Bresnan commissioner Scholarship Fund and Power Play, IAPD's after-school grant program. The annual tour is designed as a fun way to "raise awareness and funds for these causes. Those who wish to get on tour next year should be on the lookout for the IAPD Golf Tour date saver card coming out soon with the dates and locations for 2004. Don't miss this opportunity for commissioners, directors and friends to network with fellow colleagues from around the state; make new acquaintances; learn more about golf operations, design, and maintenance; and have some fun.
About Friends of Illinois Parks Friends of Illinois Parks is a nonprofit organization that strives to involve more citizens statewide as friends. 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
100 ¦ Illinois Parks and Recreation |
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The Decatur Park Singer's serenade IPRA Chairperson Elizabeth Kessier at Park District Conservation Day at the IISinois State Fair in Springfield.
Andrew Gemmell, CPRP, is the new superintendent of recreation for the Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department. He now oversees the beach operation, special events, trips, and programs, and he oversees the recreation supervisor. He comes to Lake in the Hills after nine years with the Wood Dale Park District. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and the Rocky Mountain Revenue & Management School. He is a certified pool operator and an NYSCA director, and is involved with the Facility Management Section of IPRA.
