FROM THE EDITOR

It's easy to fall into rhythms to let cycles -natural or otherwise -dictate the tenor and tempo of our day, our week, our year. For me, it's comforting to have the schedule set for the next magazine (and the next and the next), to know the year will begin with the Soaring to New Heights Conference and that the spring will bring the legislative conference, to mark time in chunks of book projects, as well as in the budding of flowers and the turning of leaves. But this is also dangerously close to a recipe for rut. Somewhere, there's a fuzzy line between being well scheduled and being bored silly. That line fascinates me.

No wonder I'm a big fan of the movie "Groundhog Day," where Bill Murray is either blessed or cursed with the opportunity to live the same day over and over until he gets it right. Within the reoccurring structure of each successive groundhog day, Murray's character introduces a new whimsy, tries a new pick-up line, takes a new approach to his piano lesson. Inside the safety (or is it the constraint?) of a daily routine, he finds room for play. And, eventually, in that play he discovers who he is and what he values.

In my round about way, I'm trying to explain my delight with the Lake County Forest Preserves' 2007 Cicada Mania program. Yup, in northern Illinois, this is the one summer in every 17 that droves of those red-eyed insects with their outer-space-sounding, 90-decibel mating songs will emerge. You'll likely hear and see plenty of them in May or June. They don't bite, but they can sure annoy.

Unless, of course, you think like the folks over at Lake County. They've seized on the emergence of Brood XIII, added whimsy and created weeks of cicada-related events. There are cicada hikes, a sculpture installation, a traveling cicada mobile, a once-every-17-years entomology presentation and a one-day Cicada Mania event at the Ryerson Woods Welcome Center on June 3, which will feature music, face painting, wagon rides and light refreshments. (The advertising claims that no actual cicadas will be served.)

For children in Lake County, this will be the first time they've ever seen a massive cicada emergence. Seventeen years from now, perhaps, the novelty will wear thin. But this summer, thanks to some creative programming by people who know how to find the fun, children in northern Illinois will have a play-filled chance to have a positive first experience with these creatures.

In that sense, the program is not unlike the regularly occurring programming at agencies across this state. Sure, you've had swimming lessons and day camps and T-ball for years. But it's the young, playful spirit you bring to these annual warm weather programs that inspires patrons to hit that ball, perfect that craft or take that first plunge in the deep end.

So, please, keep the routine fresh.
Don't fear the cicadas.
And have a great summer.

- RODD WHELPLEY
Editor

OFFICES 217.523.4554 FAX 217.523.4273 E-MAIL rwhelpley@ILparks.org WORLD WIDE WEB www.ILparks.org www.ILipra.org MAIL 211 East Monroe Street Springfield, Illinois 62701-1186 Managing Editor TED FLICKINGER, President and Chief Executive Officer, IAPD Editor RODD WHELPLEY, Publications Director, IADP Graphic Design GOSS GRAPHIC DESIGN 217.423.4739 www.gossgrfx.com Advertising Sales Representative BETH SALTZ Alrington Publishers Representatives 44 North Vail Ave., Suite 706 Arlington Heights, IL 60005 847.509.9810 FAX: 847.509.9816 bsaltz@arlpub.com JOINT EDITORIAL COMMITTEE IAPD Representatives ANN AUSTIN Rock Island Park and Recreation Department RHONDA BROWNE Hazel Crest Park District WALLY FRASIER Mudelein Park and Recreation District ROBERT GELWICKS Downers Grove Park District MIKE FROST Chillicothe Park District MARY WRIGHT Naperville Park District IPRA Representatives LAURA BARRON, CPRP Lisle Park District ARNIE BIONDO Carol Stream Park District CHERYL CRISMAN, CPRP Plainfield Park District MIKE DOTY, CPRP Sun City, Huntly ELSA FISCHER, CPRP Northbrook Park District JAMES ROGERS, CPRP Elmhurst Park District

Illinois Association of Park Districts SCOTT TRIPHAHN Chairman Hoffman Estates Park District MIKE KROST Chairman Elect Chillicothe Park District DAVID MASON Immediate Past Chairman DeKalb Park District WALLY FRASIER Vice Chairman Mundelein Park and Recreation District COLETTE M. KUBIESA Vice Chairman Elmhurst Park District GEORGE LONGMEYER Vice Chairman Schaumburg Park District WILLIS "BILL" LOGAN Treasurer Springfield Park District CURTIS GENTRY Sergeant-at-Arms Round Lake Area Park District HARRIS AGNEW Rockford Park District DONDALD V. ANDERSEN Oak Lawn Park District MARY ANN CHAMBERS Northbrook Park District CARL FLOWERS Carbondale Park District LINDA JOHNSON Crete Park District MICKEY MACHOLL Hanover Park Park District DANIEL MATOS-REAL Chicago Park District LOIS NICKSON Macomb Park District JOSEPH PETRY Champaign Park District ROBERT SMITH Arlington Heights Park District PAMELA SWAFFORD Naperville Park District IAPD Headquarters 211 East Monroe Street Springfield, IL 62701-1186 217.523.4554 www.ILparks.org TED FLICKINGER, Ph.D., CPRP, CAE President and Chief Executive Officer BILL G. BODINE Business Manger CINDY DEITERS Marketing Specialist BOBBIE JO HILL Public Relations Manager SHERRI KHILE Executive Secretary PETER M. MURPHY, CAE General Counsel SHANNON SARTAIN Legal Secretary SUE TRIPHAHN, CMP Educational Services Director RODD WHELPLEY Publications Director

Illinois Park and Recreation Association AMY CHARLESWORTH, CPRP Chairman Rolling Meadows Park District TRACEY M. CRAWFORD, CPRP, CTRS Chairman Elect NSSRA WILLIAM G. McADAM, CPRP Immediate Past Chairman Oswegoland Park District CHERYL CRISMAN Plainfield Park District CARRIE HAUPERT, CPRP Village of Hinsdale JOHN McGOVERN NSSRA CAROLYN NAGLE, CTRS, CPRP Fox Valley SRA ROBERT ORSI, CPRP Bolingbrook Park District LORIKAY PADEN, CPRP University of Illinois RON SALSKI, CPRP Wheeling Park District MIKE TOOHEY, CPRP Wheaton Park District IPRA Headquarters 1815 S. Meyers Rd., Suite 400 Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 630.376.1911 www.ILipra.org WILLIAM J. M. WALD, CPRP Chief Executive Officer NANCY BOYK Office Assistant DOROTHY BRINK Executive Administrative Assistant DEAN COMBER Information Technology/ Project Management Director ELIZABETH CUSTODIO Bookkeeper DIANE FRANDSEN Education & Conference Assistant MICHELLE HUNZIKER Development & Project Assistant YVONNE ILLENBERG Finance/Human Resources Director DINA KARTCH Education & Conference Director POLLY MCKEE, APRP Membership/ Certification Assistant MIKE SELEP, CPRP Professional Services Director HEATHER WEISHAAR Development and Project Director MATTHEW WHITE Marketing & Communications Director

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

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Interim Editor 4 Illinois Parks and Recreation