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Illinois Park and Recreation
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Access Terms Feedback Please get your park and recreation agency involved! Fill out a participation form and return it to IPRA - we’ll add you to the list of participating agencies. Your agency will be identified as a participating member on the IPRA website.
The committee found it critical to help agencies to identify and achieve a high level of health and wellness for their employees and to recognize their achievements. As a result, the No Employee Left Behind (NELB) award was created. The award is comprised of six components, for which criteria have been developed: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual. Applying agencies will receive Standards and Compliance guidelines, with the awards being presented at the IPRA Annual meeting on the Friday evening of the IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Annual Conference. Questions regarding the NELB award and the work of the Health & Wellness Committee can be directed to Lori Neubauer at the Itasca Park District.
For Immediate Release The funding was made available through the US Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and a Durbin-authored provision in the 2008 Farm Bill. Click here for a list of communities receiving funding. "Around 20 percent of the trees in Chicago are ash trees, and as the infestation rapidly spreads, communities across the region are struggling with the costs associated with combating this destructive beetle. Many communities have tens of thousands of ash trees at risk. At an average cost of $500 per tree removal and a couple of hundred dollars more to replant a tree, an EAB infestation can have a serious economic impact on our communities. The federal funding distributed today will help alleviate the financial burden of removing infested trees and planting new ones for fifty-eight communities in the Chicagoland area. This has been a collaborative effort, and I am grateful for the work of The Morton Arboretum and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus," Durbin said. "This funding will not only address immediate local needs for coping with EAB, but will facilitate more comprehensive urban forest protection and growth to help maintain a robust canopy of trees for the long term. This is important to preserve the region's economic well being and help communities flourish," Edith Makra, Arboretum Community Trees Advocate, said. "The Emerald Ash Borer infestation crosses multiple city boundaries, meaning solutions should be addressed on a regional basis. This funding is crucial to preserving the quality of life in our region by helping local governments replace infested trees and restore diminished tree canopy. We are grateful to Senator Durbin and the Illinois congressional delegation for their assistance in securing funds for the Chicago region and the State," Larry Hartwig, Mayor of Addison and Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Executive Board Chair, said. The competitive grant program was designed to strengthen each community’s ability to build a sustained urban forest canopy. With the assistance of the Arboretum’s expertise, municipalities will now be able to acquire trees to replace those threatened or destroyed by EAB, plant the trees using best practices, and bolster existing community tree care programs or help governments roll out such programs. Grant recipients are required to prepare and submit local EAB management plans verified by certified arborists. The newly-planted trees will provide environmental benefits such as clean air and water, reduced storm water runoff and erosion, and reduced energy demand as trees mitigate the heat-island effect. The tree planting will also have economic benefits, and will help promote Illinois’ nursery industry through the sale of replacement trees. Communities received funding for reforestation and technical assistance through the 2008 Farm Bill and for targeted geographical reforestation through GLRI. In particular, the Farm Bill funded tree inventories and comprehensive management plans to help communities manage the immediate impacts of EAB and analyze their urban forests for future vulnerabilities. More than 150 grant applications were reviewed by a team of experts including representatives from the Morton Arboretum, Openlands, USDA APHIS, Lake County Forest Preserve, the City of Chicago, Illinois Department of Agriculture Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Citizen Advocacy Center, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. Communities receiving grants have committed local matches totaling more than $2.4 million. According to the U.S. Forest Service, EAB threatens an estimated eight billion ash trees in the United States, including 130 million in Illinois. Durbin has been actively involved in efforts to secure emergency assistance for dealing with EAB since it was first discovered in Illinois in June 2006. Since then, Durbin has helped secure more than $10 million in federal funding for EAB management in Illinois. The Emerald Ash Borer, which has been confirmed in 16 counties including Boone, Bureau, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Iroquois, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, McLean, Will and Winnebago, is a bright green beetle that kills trees by burrowing into their bark and destroying the trees’ ability to bring water from the roots to upper branches. Infected trees usually begin to die within two to three years. State officials have quarantined all or parts of 25 Illinois counties due to EAB infestation. The federal government has mandated that T12 lamps be phased out of production in 2012. Approximately 30 percent of all fluorescent lamps sold in the U.S. are still T12 technology. As a result of the T12 phase out, 70 percent of all T12 fluorescent lamps sold in the U.S. will be phased out by July 2012. This means all public facilities will eventually have to upgrade all of their T12 lighting. To help the public sector and public schools, the State's Illinois Energy Now program is offering its best incentives to upgrade to high-efficiency T8 or T5 lamps. DCEO’s Illinois Energy Now special sale is open to municipalities, park districts, fire districts, public k-12 schools, public universities, community colleges and state and federal facilities within ComEd and Ameren electric service areas. The Illinois Energy Now special sale will be available from December 13, 2010 to April 15, 2011. Applicants seeking the Illinois Energy Now Special must submit an addendum along with the standard application and follow the Public Sector Electric Efficiency Program Guidelines and specifications posted at http://www.IllinoisEnergy.org (follow the Illinois Energy Now link). Incentives cannot exceed 100 percent of project cost. Application due: March 22, 2011 CARE is a unique community-based, community-driven, multimedia demonstration program designed to help communities understand and reduce risks due to toxic pollutants and environmental concerns from all sources. The CARE grant program works with applicants and recipients to help their communities form collaborative partnerships, develop an understanding of the many local sources of toxic pollutants and environmental risks, set priorities, and identify and carry out projects to reduce risks through collaborative action at the local level. CARE’s long-term goal is to help communities build self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to improve human health and local environments into the future.
Created in 2005, IAW’s grant program awards grantees up to $10,000 for "innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in our local communities." Watershed cleanups, reforestation efforts, biodiversity projects, streamside buffer restoration projects and hazardous waste collection efforts are all cited as examples of eligible activities. To be eligible, the project must be a community initiative and be located within the Illinois American Water service area. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Event Date: March 31, 2011 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Event Date: April 7, 2011 8:00 AM - April 8, 2011 6:00 PM Your registration fee covers all pre-course study materials, shipping, lunch and snacks on Thursday and Friday. Click here to download printable form! Click here to register online! Check out the benefits of the AFO program over similar aquatic facility training:
Event Date: April 12, 2011 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Speaker: Mike Gianatasio, Recreation Supervisor at the Lisle Park District Why this is important: Teen camps can be a great experience for the participants. This age group is often neglected in this field and this webinar is a good starting point for anyone interested in starting a teen camp. Learning Outcomes: Participants will gain a better understanding of how to start and maintain a camp for middle school aged teens. Participants will also learn activities and field trip ideas, how to hire the right staff and how to figure out what type of teen camp will work for your agency. Registration deadline is 1 week prior to webinar (April 5, 2011). Webinar access codes and instructions will be emailed 1 week prior to event. Event Date: April 19, 2011 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Speaker: John Engh, CEO of the National Alliance for Youth Sports This session, geared toward recreation professionals, analyzes a proactive 4-step approach to managing your program’s volunteer youth sports coaches through 1. Screening 2. Training 3. Evaluation 4. Accountability. What procedures do you have in place to ensure coaches are well-prepared for their role? Even more, are they representing your program’s philosophies? Learning Outcomes: Participants will discuss obstacles that relate to youth sports coach management. Participants will gain insight on developing policies for evaluation and accountability of volunteer youth sports coaches. Registration deadline is 1 week prior to webinar (April 12, 2011). Webinar access codes and instructions will be emailed 1 week prior to event. Event Date: April 21, 2011 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Topics discussed this year will include: 1. Student section networking and professional development opportunities for 2011 and 2012 Soaring to New Heights Conference. 2. Internships and the Law - how programs can develop better internship programs to meet the needs of students and agencies and stay current with laws regarding internships. 3. Recruitment and Retention - provide information regarding resources available to help better recruit potential students into university programs throughtout the state of Illinois to better prepare tomorrow's work force. 4. Sports Management Impact - explore the impacts of increased numbers in sports management programs. What is available for graduates in this program? More information to come! For information on the IPRA CURC Committee, please contact Lee Ann Fisk or Laura Payne CALENDAR/UPCOMING EVENTS
Event Date: March 10, 2011 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
As soon as pricing information is finalized, registration will be available through the IPRA Event Calendar. Order Deadline: June 13, 2011 Discount tickets can be made available for your agency by contacting the Six Flags sales office directly at (847)625-7518. Inquire about their discount ticket program for recreation departments and you will be put in touch with a representative. Ticket programs are available for groups of 20 or more with flexible dates to fit your department program calendar. CONFERENCE
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Job Title: Mechanic Job Title: Summer Internship Job Title: Special Recreation Supervisor Job Title: Preserve Maintenance Worker Job Title: Parks and Forestry Superintendent Job Title: Naturalist Job Title: Director of Park Services SECTION/COMMITTEE INFO
Get Regular Medical Examinations: Get at least one general medical examination every year in order to detect diseases such as cancer, diabetes or cholesterol as early as possible.
Event Date: March 10, 2011 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM E-Mail parks_mipe@yahoo.com (preferred method) or call 630-279-2124 by Friday, March 4, 2011.
Event Date: March 18, 2011 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM 9:30am Board Meeting and 10:30am All Section Meeting.
Date: March 24, 2011 - 11:00 AM
Event Date: April 6, 2011 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Our mission is: "To increase awareness and provide tools to help agencies achieve environmental sustainability in their communities." It is a sub-committee of the Parks and Natural Resource Section (PNRMS). Our meeting dates are on the first Wednesday of the month at 1:00 at Schaumburg Park District’s Spring Valley Nature Center. Event Date: April 15, 2011 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Back to brochures is the topic. Please bring samples of your brochures, bid specs, and printer recommendations. If you have specific discussion requests on this topic, please email them to jalexenko@obparks.org by Friday, April 8. Event Date: April 21, 2011 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM The Section meets regularly. Section meetings are held throughout the year. Section members are urged to participate in the seciton so that their professional needs may be heard. Dates for 2011: Feb 17, April 21, June 16, Aug 18, Oct 20 and Dec 15. |
