IPRA Today

Illinois Park and Recreation

NEWS YOU CAN USE

The "Members Only" Education Institute to be held April 20 promises to be great experience, so mark your calendars today! Additionally, you will notice the Leadership Academy and its three levels, which will launch in October. Please stay tuned for a complete description of course offerings and the application process.

IPRA will continue to add educational opportunities to the calendar as they are developed, so please check in often to see the updated list.

 
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Event Date: Dec. 2 - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Oakbrook Terrace Park District, 1S325 Ardmore Ave., Villa Park, Ill.
Contact: Sheila Mulvey-Tatoris 

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED!
 
Park districts and recreation departments, like other businesses, are prone to economic slump if users’ expectations for enjoyable experiences are not fulfilled. Accelper has developed the Breakthrough Innovation (Brinnovation™) framework for helping individuals and organizations use intellectual resources for deploying innovation and delivering more enjoyable service experiences.

One-Day Breakthrough Innovation Training Includes:

  1. Introduction
  2. State of Business and Performance Trends
  3. Innovation Strategy for Illinois Park and Recreation
  4. Creativity Exercise
  5. Innovation Framework
  6. Thinking Innovatively Exercise
  7. Portfolio of Innovations Activity
  8. TEDOC Methodology
  9. Developing Innovation Plan Activity

Who Should Attend? Executive Directors and Superintendents

Presented by Praveen Gupta, an internationally recognized expert in excellence and innovation, will facilitate the session. Praveen consults with organizations institutionalizing excellence and innovation for improving customer value, growth and bottom line. Praveen has been developing innovative solutions for more than 25 years. Praveen has authored Business Innovation in the 21st Century and The Innovation Solution books. Praveen is founding editor of International Journal of Innovation Science, developer of the Brinnovation™ framework and faculty at University of Illinois, Chicago, and Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.

Click here to download printable form!

Click here to register!

 

Date: Dec. 8 - 10 a.m.
Location: Buffalo Grove Park District, Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Dr., Buffalo Grove
Contact: Mike Selep

Click here to download printable form!

Click here to register!

 
CALENDAR/UPCOMING EVENTS

Date: Dec. 5 - 10 a.m.
Location: online
Contact: Heather Weishaar

Click here to register!

 
CONFERENCE

Conference Registration is Open! Early-bird registration deadline is Dec. 2.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • If you're interested in volunteering at Conference Registration, please email Alan Howard at IAPD
  • If you're interested in volunteering at Conference Headquarters, please email Heather Weishaar at IPRA
  • Volunteers must be members of either association, and be registered to attend the conference.
 
NEWS ABOUT MEMBERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ray McGury, Executive Director, 630-848-3500, rmcgurgy@napervilleparks.org, Sameera Luthman, Director of Marketing and Communications, 630-848-3570, sluthman@napervilleparks.org

Date: Nov. 10 

The decision was announced at the NRPA national conference in Atlanta, following a formal hearing before the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).

Naperville is the second park district in Illinois to earn this distinction. The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies accredits a handful of park agencies each year that have completed a multi-step process, involving a self-review by the agency, a site visit and an evaluation and formal report by the commission. As of 2011, only 104 park and recreation agencies have achieved CAPRA accreditation, out of more than 10,000 agencies nationwide.

"We are extremely proud to bring this honor to Naperville," Park District Executive Director Ray McGury said. "It’s an affirmation of our high standards and also an encouragement to continue bringing high-quality recreation and parks experiences to our community."

The park district’s accreditation process began approximately one year ago and included an extensive self-evaluation by staff and a five-day visit from CAPRA reviewers in July. Maintaining the accreditation requires annual reports and five- and 10-year reviews.

In addition to maintaining CAPRA accreditation, Naperville Park District staff intends to begin the state accreditation process in 2012. The district is an Illinois Distinguished Agency and has maintained this status since 1994.

Park district staff members said the CAPRA process has helped them see the big picture, focus on long-term goals and plans, review plans more regularly and organize documents so they are accessible and useable and collaborate more effectively both interdepartmentally and with outside organizations.

For questions about the Naperville Park District and its programs and facilities, please contact the Naperville Park District at 630-848-5000 or visit www.napervilleparks.org.

About the Naperville Park District: Created in 1966, the Naperville Park District is an independent, municipal agency serving the recreation needs of its residents. An Illinois Distinguished Agency since 1994, the District is one of only 1% of park districts across the country to be nationally accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The Naperville Park District’s mission is to provide recreation and park experiences that enhance the quality of life for our community, including benefits such as community health, environmental education, social connections, and personal growth. The District maintains and operates more than 2,500 acres with 130+ parks and facilities and provides more than 1,400 recreational, arts and environmental programs and special events annually. Included within the District’s operations are two championship golf courses, a multitude of playgrounds, trails, athletic courts and sports fields, two inline skating and skateboarding facilities, the Millennium Carillon, a paddle boat quarry, historic Centennial Beach, and the beautiful Riverwalk.

 
RESOURCES/SURVEYS
Do you have a question to ask our members? Do you need insight on an issue or policy question? IPRA will conduct monthly surveys and share the results with you. Please email Jan Arnold with your question.
 
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