PEOPLE AID PLACES

Longtime SEASPAR Superintendent Succeeds Retiring Director

Robert Pindar, the director of the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR) retired in June after 24 years of service. Pindar's accomplishments as director include working with local and state legislators to obtain funding for SEASPAR's permanent office and program space, overseeing SEASPAR's growth from seven to ten communities and the exponential growth of programs and services, as well as coordinating SEASPAR's efforts to earn the National Gold Medal for excellence in programming for people with disabilities.

Pindar has received numerous awards, including the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Special Recognition Award and Excellence in Service Award.

Susan Friend, CPRP, has succeeded Pindar as director of SEASPAR. Friend, who held the position of superintendent for 27 years, is now responsible for all administrative functions of the agency, fund development, board and community relations and overall agency supervision.

Friend's accomplishments with SEASPAR include assisting the coordination of the agency's efforts to receive the Gold Medal Award, creation of the Kiwanis Aktion Club for adults with disabilities and program development in the communities SEASPAR serves.

Friend has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Eastern Illinois Alumni Award, ITRS Distinguished Service Award and IPRA's President's Award. She has held various professional positions, including ITRS director and IPRA Board member. She has presented at many local and statewide workshops and conferences.

Friend earned her undergraduate degree in recreation administration from Eastern Illinois University and a graduate degree in management from National-Louis University.

Forest Preserve District Celebrates Nature Preserve Designation

More than 100 acres in DuPage County will be kept in their natural state in perpetuity. That's because the state of Illinois has officially designated 120 acres of prairie in the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve as a state nature preserve. By law, this rare designation secures this site's protection.

Dubbed the Truitt-Hoff Nature Preserve, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County' dedicated the new preserve in August. The nature preserve is part of a network of natural areas in the state used for hiking, bird watching, nature photography and approved scientific research.

The name "Truitt-Hoff" honors two people instrumental in resurrecting the prairie: former West Chicago Mayor Richard Truitt and forest preserve district volunteer steward Melvern Hoff. Truitt, an amateur naturalist, came upon the prairie while walking through the city's more remote areas in 1975. Due in large part to his advocacy, the forest preserve district and the city of West Chicago jointly purchased the property in 1979. Hoff founded the West Chicago Prairie Stewardship Group. As a volunteer for the West Chicago Prairie from 1982 until his death in 2001, he spent countless hours removing normative vegetation, collecting and sowing native seeds and monitoring its prairie and wetland communities.

A hike at Truitt-Hoff Preserve.

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New Naperville Recreation Center Conceptual Design Approved

Years of planning for a new recreation facility in Naperville are on schedule to come to fruition in the fall of 2008. In September, the Naperville Park District Board of Directors approved the conceptual design for the community's new $35 million recreation center. The next step is to move ahead with detailed drawings.

In early 2005, the Naperville Park District completed a comprehensive public input-gathering process. Resident feedback included comments about a lack of indoor recreation space, particularly in the southern part of town. Architects hosted several "design dialogue" meetings with park district staff to define community needs. In addition, park district staff worked informational booths about the new center at various community events throughout the summer to inform the public.

The chosen concept features a central concourse design, demonstrating a mix of warm materials within a modern context. Plans call for a two-story, 125,000-square-foot structure to be built at Frontier Park. The recreation center will include a three-court gymnasium; men's and women's locker rooms; a special needs and family changing room; short-term childcare during workouts or classes; a pre-school; a cycling or spinning room; an eight-lane running or walking track; a game room for teens; a two-level lounge area; multi-purpose rooms and a central concourse area for special events. Along with a 150-person spectator area, the center will include two aquatic features: a lap pool for competitive swimmers and a leisure pool, which will feature a zero-depth entry and a "lazy river."

Oak Park Celebrates Park Re-Opening

On Saturday, September 16, more than 200 Oak Park residents came out to celebrate the grand re-opening of Andersen Park. This was the first park renovation project completed by the Park District of Oak Park since the successful approval of the "Renew Our Parks" referendum in April 2005. Improvements to Andersen Park include a new playground, swings, a roll hill and three seating areas surrounding the play area. Other features to be completed are a splash pad and a woven willow dome, which is a group of willow trees formed to create a play environment.

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Park Ridge Posts 'Awesome' Win at Park Pursuit

The IPRA thanks all who participated in the 2nd annual Park Pursuit on September 22 in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

The more than six-mile course, which was covered on foot, physically and mentally tested each team. Participants needed to work together, endure the course and outsmart the other teams, all while having a great time.

Congratulations to the Park Ridge Park District's "Team Awesome" who was victorious in this year's Park Pursuit.

2006 Park Pursuit Official Results

1. Park Ridge Park District - Team Awesome

2.  Clarendon Hills Park District - Zoo Heads

3. Bartlett Park District - One Hunk-a-licious Dude & Three Broads

4. Park District of Oak Park - The team formerly known as Super Atomic Ninja Funky Fight Squad

5. Mt. Prospect Park District - Grape Kool-Aid

6. Carol Stream Park District - The Best

7.  Skokie Park District - 3 Rekkie Chicks & A Rooster

8. Waukegan Park District - Team 2

9. Hoffman Estates Park District - Super Happy Fun Club

10. Western DuPage Special Recreation Association-Where's the beer?

11. Deerfield Park District - Deerfield Team

12. Elk Grove Park District - Sweaty Armpits

13. Morton Grove Park District - Buck Up!

14. Roselle Park District - Roselle Reinforcement

15. Urbana Park District - JJCD

16. Elk Grove Park District - Hairy Legs

17. Waukegan Park District - Big Rabbits Run Fast

18.  (tie) Morton Grove Park District - Mighty Madcap Morton Grove Marauders

18. (tie) Oak Brook Park District - PB & the J's

20. Oak Brook Park District - Red Lounge Social Club

21.  South Suburban Special Recreation Association -Team SSSRA

22. Western DuPage Special Recreation Association -3's Company.. .4's a crowd

23. Tinley Park-Park District - Team Tinley

24. York Center Park District - The Awesomes DSQ - Manhattan Park District - Manhappen'n

DSQ - Western DuPage Special Recreation Association -Suburbanettes

The IPRA reminds agencies that it is not too early to begin training for the 2007 Park Pursuit. The early favorite for course location is the Wrigleyville neighborhood.

IPRA thanks its 2006 Park Pursuit sponsors: Fifth Third Bank, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Moosejaw, Hitchcock Design Group, Design Perspectives, Speer Financial, IL Pump, The Printing System and Red Bull.

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Geneva Names New Facility Supervisor and Rec Supervisor

Dana Fortin was recently named Geneva Park District's facility supervisor. Fortin manages the physical operations and maintenance of the Sunset Racquetball & Fitness Center and the Stone Creek Miniature Golf Course. She also manages the fitness, birthday party and rental programs for the district.

Fortin is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a degree in recreation administration. She has been with the Geneva Park District as a recreation supervisor for six years. She is a Certified Youth Sports Administrator and a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, as well as a member of IPRA, SPRA and CYSA.

Mike Contreras has joined the district as athletic supervisor. He oversees youth and adult athletics, martial arts and teen programming, as well as several special events.

Contreras is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a degree in recreation, park and tourism administration. He has several years experience working in park districts throughout the Chicago area, including an internship with the Schaumburg Park District.

Downers Grove Hires New PR Director and Museum Supervisor

The Downers Grove Park District recently hired William C. Pearch as its new public information supervisor. Previously, he worked for the Elmhurst Park District as communication manager and the IBM Corporation as a graphics specialist. He received an M.S. with an emphasis in integrated marketing communication from Roosevelt University and a B.A. in interdepartmental communication from Elmhurst College.

Heather Bigeck has joined the district's facilities department as the museum supervisor. Previously, she worked for the South Dakota Historical Society as curator of collections. She received a B.A. in anthropology, performance music and museum studies from Beloit College. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in museum studies through the University of Oklahoma.

Summer 2006 Golf Tour Wraps Up in Mundelein

Nearly 115 golfers and guests participated in the last leg of the 2006 IAPD Summer Golf Tour. The Mundelein Park and Recreation District hosted the event at Steeple Chase Golf Club.

The tour events are popular with commissioners, directors, staff, business partners and friends. IAPD conducts and promotes these outings to enable attendees to network, exchange ideas, make new acquaintances and learn about new programs or facilities in a relaxed setting. Proceeds from this Friends of Illinois Parks-sponsored tour go towards research and PowerPlay!, IAPD's beyond-school grant program.

For sponsors, the tour provides a unique business opportunity to promote their company's products or services while demonstrating support for parks, recreation and conservation in Illinois. The presenting sponsor for the 2006 tour was W-T Engineering, while Park and Recreation Supply/Team Reil was an event sponsor for each stop on the tour.

The IAPD is especially grateful to the board of commissioners and staff of the following agencies for hosting Summer 2006 Golf Tour events at these premier public golf courses: Hoffman Estates Park District's Poplar Creek Country Club; Kane County Forest Preserve District's Settlers Hill Golf Course in Batavia; Makray Memorial Golf Club hosted by the Barrington Park District; and the Mundelein Park and Recreation District's Steeple Chase Golf Club. The IAPD also appreciates the support from member agencies that donated door prizes for this summer's tour events.

The results of the Mundelein outing are as follows.

IAPD Summer Golf Tour Event #4
Steeple Chase Golf Club
Mundelein Park and Recreation District
September 26, 2006

Low Net Score: 58 shot by the PAVELOC Industries Inc. group consisting of Marc Hurley, Eric Martin, Jim Sokowloski and Bill Sweeney

Longest Drive-Men: Dennis Stein

Longest Drive-Women: Jean Schlinkmann

Closest to the Pin: Kevin Graham

Longest Putt: Mike Espinosa

Fitzgerald Lighting and Maintenance Co. Inc. Putt Fore Cash: Oscar Dahl

Friends of Illinois Parks 50/50 Raffle: Paul Cathey

Tour Event Raffle

3rd Prize, Callaway Wedge (donated by the North brook Park District): Bob Lohman

2nd Prize, Mizuno Fli Hi Utility Club (donated by IPARKS): Jim Petkus

1st Prize, Mizuno MX17 Set of Irons and Mizuno Golf Bag: Peter Goworowski

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SRA Coach Chosen for Special Olympics World Games

Sherrie Izban, therapeutic recreation supervisor for the Joliet Bolingbrook Special Recreation Association (JBSRA), was selected as a track and field coach for Team USA at the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China in October 2007.

Izban has been a track and field coach for more than five years and has always dreamed of coaching for the World Games. This year, she decided to apply for the coaching position, got an interview and was notified in September that she had been chosen as an assistant coach of the track and field team.

Izban will attend the Team USA Training Camp in July 2007 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. In October, she will fly to China for the games. Izban is among only five assistant coaches chosen from Illinois. Nine athletes from Illinois will compete in the World Games.

Izban enjoys being a coach for Special Olympics and was recently a track and field coach at the national games in Iowa. "Special Olympics gives me a sense of pride. It allows me to help others and feel really good about it," Izban said. "There is just nothing better than seeing your athlete smile when he or she is about to receive a medal or ribbon."

Izban is a certified coach in track and field, basketball, volleyball, bocce, Softball and soccer. She came to the Bolingbrook Park District from the Gateway Special Recreation Association in Burr Ridge, where she served as superintendent of recreation. She graduated from Rosary College in River Forest with a BA. in psychology. She also received an MA. in clinical psychology from Roosevelt University. Her responsibilities at the Bolingbrook Park District include program development for JBSRA, outreach to area schools and fundraising.

Winnetka Hires New Recreation Supervisor

Laura Hebel recently joined the Winnetka Park District as a recreation supervisor. She is responsible for youth basketball, lacrosse, youth softball, youth sports camp programs, adult softball and a variety of community-wide special events for the district.

Hebel spent the last two years at the Pleasant Dale Park District in Burr Ridge as the athletic supervisor. She is a 2003 graduate from the University of Chicago with a BA. in psychology, specializing in child development and sports psychology. At the University of Chicago, she was the captain of the women's basketball team for two years.

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Two New Rec Supervisors at Homewood-Flossmoor

The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District hired two new recreation supervisors this past summer.

Sara Hupe joined the district in June. Hupe was previously a recreation supervisor at the Des Plaines Park District and earlier was on the staff at the Palos Heights Recreation Department. She has a bachelor's degree in sociology from Luther College and a master's degree in recreation administration from Aurora University. She handles the district's preschool program, dance classes and adult arts programs, as well as some special events, such as the Starry Nights Concert Series.

Melissa Rimdzius worked the summer as a recreation intern at the district and then was offered a full-time position in August. She holds a degree in recreation, sport and tourism with an emphasis in recreation management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She manages the district's before- and after-school care program, day camps, trips and the Holiday Yard Card program.

Lake in the Hills Hires New Rec Supervisor

Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department recently welcomed Casie Peltz as a new recreation supervisor, Peltz oversees preschool and youth programs and coordinates summer camp and special events. She returns to the recreation field after working in the private sector and taking time off to raise a family. She previously worked at the Elk Grove and Bartlett Park Districts. Petlz has a B.S. in recreation and park administration from Illinois State University.

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