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

House Bill 19e4 protects Illinois park districts from frivolous dissolution attempts.

Public Act 88-91 authorizes park districts to establish fees for resident and nonresident participation.

1984

Governor Edgar designates the second Saturday of the Illinois State Fair "Park District Conservation Day," to promote the positive impact of the state's park districts, forest preserve, recreation and natural resource agencies. Co-sponsored with the Illinois Department of Conservation (renamed the Department of Natural Resources in 1995) and IPRA, the event showcases park district entertainment and recreation, and environmental and wildlife displays.

Parks Day at the Capitol debuts in conjunction with the Legislative Conference, and it has grown to an event that lines the halls of the State Capitol Rotunda with park and forest preserve displays.

IAPD publishes its first Handbook on Illinois Park District Law and the Park Commissioners Handbook.

1995

On June 29, Governor Jim Edgar signs Public Act 89-49, creating the Conservation 2000 fund to be used to establish a comprehensive program to protect Illinois natural resources through cooperative partnerships among state government, public and private land owners.

IAPD develops its first Public Relations Committee to emphasize public relations in parks and recreation and begins a series of media relations workshops.

On March 23, IAPD presents with the Illinois Department on Aging the first Leisure and Aging Summit, which earns Silver Eagle Corps Recognition from The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for promoting recreation and wellness for older Americans.

Senate Bill 368 passes, restoring bonding authority to districts under the tax cap legislation of 1991.

1996

IAPD champions the cause of at-risk youth in partnership with Attorney General Jim Ryan to foster partnerships among police, schools, park districts and nonprofit organizations.

IAPD forms the Research Advisory Council to fund trend-focused and benefits-based research for parks and recreation, which received contributions from 88 member agencies.

IAPD's first Web site goes live.

1997

James Heberer, of the Kewanee Park District, receives IAPD's first Rising Star Award for new commissioners of note.

IAPD stops legislative non-compete initiative of the YMCAs and begins partnership-building with heads of Illinois YMCAs.

Senate Bill 476 amends the Child Labor Law to permit 14- and 10-year-olds to work later in the parks.

1998

IAPD partners with the Illinois Arts Council to offer special funds for park district art programs, and the association promotes a popular statewide art contest involving 3,000 Illinois school children.

The nonprofit fundraising arm of IAPD, Friends of Illinois Parks, is established to involve citizens in IAPD's mission to preserve land and expand recreational opportunities for youth after-school programs.

IAPD advocates for the Museum Grant Program, which becomes Public Act 90-604.

1999

IAPD lobbies for the Open Land Trust to fund local open space preservation projects. During Governor George Ryan's administration, this program provided just less than $64 million for 65 local projects to preserve more than 8,700 acres of land for preservation and resource-based outdoor recreation use.