The Illinois Association of Park Districts at 75 years young: celebrating three-quarters of a century of citizen advocacy

Parks & Recreation, April, 2003 by Ted Flickinger, Ann Londrigan

1957

IAPD begins to sell exhibit space at its annual conference for park equipment, supply and service firms. At the 1957 conference, there were 18 exhibitors; 280 exhibitors are registered for the 2003 conference.

1959

Tort liability becomes one of the most frequently asked questions of IAPD members. Until the Illinois Supreme Court handed down on May 22, 1959, Molitor vs. Kaneland Community Unit School District No. 302 (18 Ill. 2d 11), Illinois park districts were to be held immune from tort liability by the courts under the common law rule, and the courts indicated that the park district was wholly lacking in its authority to use park district funds to pay premiums on liability insurance.

1960

IAPD and IPRA hold their annual conferences jointly in Joliet, and then in Springfield. In a 1962 publication of the IAPD, it was noted "simultaneous meetings have provided more varied programs perhaps than otherwise, have broadened the attendance and given a larger field for exhibitors. Such meetings no doubt helped to support the idea of consolidation of recreation departments/commissions with park districts."

1961

Governor Otto Kerner appoints the association's legal-legislative consultant, Robert Stuart, to serve as a member of the Torts Law Commission, created by the 72nd General Assembly to codify and make uniform the various statues relating to immunity of liability of the various municipalities and quasi-municipalities of the state.

Sections 5-2(a) and 5-2(b) were added to the Park District Code to permit the functions of a municipal recreation commission to be merged with and assumed by a park district.

At the 1961 annual conference, the association adopted a report on standards for professional park and recreation personnel. The study; headed by IAPD president Henry Gleiss, president of the Skokie Park District, was undertaken to give park and recreation boards guidance in the selection of personnel; to give colleges and universities guidance in developing curricula for better preparation of professional personnel; and to encourage men and women to seek a career in parks and recreation.

1966

IAPD holds the first annual IAPD Commissioners Seminar, a training opportunity for newly elected park officials.

1970

IAPD and IPRA agree by resolution to jointly produce the statewide bimonthly magazine, renamed Illinois Parks & Recreation, and to jointly sponsor the annual conference. These resolutions marked the first of many formal agreements between IAPD and IPRA.

1973

Park districts receive authorization to levy taxes for joint recreational programs for the disabled and for the organization and maintenance of a park police system.

1976

Legislation passed adding article 11.2 to the Park District Code, authorizing creation of a working cash fund and the levy of .025 percent.

1978

IAPD celebrates its 50th anniversary with a dinner program held at Forum 30 in Springfield. A telegram from President Jimmy Carter was read, as well as a letter from Governor James Thompson in "appreciation for the great contribution of IAPD to the success of parks and recreation in Illinois."