Photos of the 18th Hole: (top) the fairway just days after the storms in July; (middle) in August, many fairways were still more mud than grass; (bottom) the lushness of the course has returned and will be nurtured throughout the winter for the spring season.

IN THE

KNOWWHEELING

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Wheeling Park District 333 W Dundee Road Wheeling, IL 60090www.wheelingparkdistrict.com

PHOTO: Mark Twain Park is a welcoming play and learning space for children of differing abilities.

Number of guests attending Special events between June-September 2017.8.5k

The Park District is completing plans for the expansion and renovation of the Community Recreation Center (CRC) beginning in spring 2018 pending final Park Board of Commissioners approval.

With the construction of Town Center, Northgate Crossing and other new developments, and the relocation of Village of Wheeling senior services full-time to the CRC, the Park District will experience a growing demand for fitness and programming space at the CRC. The current building is already undersized for the number of guests who take part in programs or use the CRC regularly.

The four major areas of expansion and renovation include: an enlarged, modern fitness center and group exercise space, relocation of the preschool and additional 21st-century educational tools, a second gymnasium, and programming space on the first level.

Long-term study and financial planning have prepared the Park District to take on this project. The current cost estimate is around $16.9 million. While the Park District Board of Commissioners has given the authorization to pursue the project, the Board will not give final approval

Making room at the CRC

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For the last 13 years, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Wheeling Park District by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment. The financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the Park District’s financial story.

Copies of the budget and financial report are posted on the District website.

District Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Wheeling Park District welcomed The Village of Wheeling’s Senior Services programming to the Park District’s Community Recreation Center (CRC). This change of location is a result of the closing of the Pavilion Senior Center effective December 31, 2017.

With Wheeling’s active senior population increasing, the existing Senior Center was determined by the Village to no longer adequately provide for the needs of its members. The move to the CRC will not only help maintain the ties seniors have made at the Pavilion, but also will provide rewarding multigenerational interactions.

“One of the Park District’s greatest assets is our ability to create spaces where the whole community can come together. We’re confident in our ability to assist the Village with this transition, and we will continue to provide the types of facilities that support senior programs now, and in the future,” said Sue Stein, President of the Wheeling Park District Board of Commissioners.

While the CRC will serve as the host facility, the Village’s Human Services Department will continue to manage senior programming and special services.

To ease the transition and ensure successful implementation, a luncheon was held for more than 100 seniors at the CRC where plans for future renovations to the facility were discussed. The seniors were able to

ask questions and view the rooms where Senior Services programming will primarily be located.

Seniors with questions about the transition are encouraged to call Village Human Services Director Shari Matthews-Huizar at 847-459-2670.

Senior Services makes move to CRC

Every day active adults enjoy working out in the Fitness Center. The Park District has served more than 1,600 older adults at the CRC since 2015.

While the golf course at Chevy Chase is designed to withstand heavy rains, what happened last July surprised everyone. Four rounds of heavy downpours in less than 48 hours left the golf course looking more like a chain of lakes than bunkers, greens, and fairways.

Under typical conditions, the land is designed to drain within one to two days. However, it is also designed to protect the surrounding neighborhoods by serving as a holding area. When the waters finally receded nearly two weeks later, the damage was extensive. The Park District Board of Commissioners determined that closing Traditions golf course for the season and allowing the grounds crew to restore the course fully was the right action to take.

Chevy staff is now focused on the 2018 season and the celebration of Chevy Chase’s “Next 90 Years” Anniversary. Improvements are being made to the cart path and bridges. The greens, rough, and fairways are returning to full strength thanks to a warm fall, plenty of sun, and late season rains.

While Chevy staff worked hard to find alternative locations for the displaced golf outings, they are eager to welcome everyone back. Outing planners are invited to call Chevy Chase to book 2018 events now. For more information, call Steve Feddern at 847-465-2304.

Chevy sets sights on spring after rainout

←The number of years Chevy Chase Country Club has been a part of the Wheeling community. 90

Nearly 100 residents took part in the Wheeling Walks 8-Week Challenge at Heritage Park. The purpose of the challenge was to encourage more people to start the healthy habit of walking. People of every age and ability joined in the weekly Saturday morning walks. The fall challenge ended with a raffle giveaway. Prizes included gift certificates from sponsor Kona Grill, exercise equipment and a personal workout package for the Wheeling Park District Fitness Center.

Special thanks to our community walk leaders: Shari Matthews-Huizar, Senior Services; Tudo “Freedom” Nguyen, Harper College Learning & Career Center; Sue Stein, Park District Board of Commissioners; Neena Pottoore, Wheeling/Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce; Gregg Crocker, Family Learning Program, and Officer Scott Laverd, Wheeling Police Department. More challenges and incentives are planned for Wheeling Walks. Contact Beth Harrington at bharrington@wheelingparkdistrict.com to receive email updates.

A Walk in the Park

Wheeling Walks meets every Saturday morning at 9:30 am at Heritage Park regardless of the weather. When the weather is bad, walkers take to the indoor track at the Community Recreation Center.

←Total walking distance in miles of all paths in the Park District. Maps of Heritage Park and Horizon Park paths can be found on our website.4.5

INSIDE• Creating better play spaces for

Wheeling neighborhoods

• Lifeguards “exceed” in every inspection and category for 2017

• Park District develops three-year comprehensive plan

A SOGGY SEASON

HORIZON PARKPlanning for Horizon Park began in 2015, but after some short-term delays this versatile play,

recreation and gathering space for people of all ages opened in May 2017. Since then, Horizon Park has been written about in newspapers, and parenting and local interest blogs. The playground is the perfect backdrop to the children’s section of the Indian Trails Public Library inviting children to come out and play. Some features of the park include a mud-free play surface with play structures for ages 2 and older, a half-mile looped 8’-wide pathway around the park with a connection to Robert Avenue, a picnic gazebo and shelter, two basketball half-courts and improved parking.

FUTURE PARK PROJECTSMoving forward, the District has earmarked several parks for improvements in the coming years.

In 2018, Heritage Park will be enhanced with a new playground. This playground, which has been a part of the Heritage Park Master Plan since its inception, will be situated between the Heritage Park Sports Complex and the Family Aquatic Center. This playground will be developed to meet the needs of all users and complement existing amenities throughout Heritage Park.

Also in 2018, the District will make improvements to Meadowbrook Park to add a playground suitable for children aged 5-12 years. At present Meadowbrook is categorized as a “Tot Lot,” meaning it only has play features for 2-5-year olds. By adding a new playground and play features, Meadowbrook will be a play space suitable for a wider age-range of children. Information on the progress of the park projects is shared on the District website and Facebook page.

5 forfive

Wheeling Park District Aquatics staff earned a rating of “Exceeds” in each of this year’s five unannounced safety evaluations.

Photos: (top) The “zip-line” playground piece is a big attraction at Horizon Park; (bottom) students help Park District Commissioners officially open the Mark Twain Park playground.

←Number of acres of play and recreation space managed by the Wheeling Park District.342

Creating open play space for the community to enjoy is the heart of the Park District. In 2012, the Park Board of Commissioners adopted a Park Improvement Plan to systematically review the District’s 11 parks, engage the community to gather input, and improve the parks to meet the needs of the residents. This process, known as the People-Drive Park Improvement Process, has been well received by the community and generated great results.

Two significant park improvement projects were completed in 2017. They were:

MARK TWAIN PARKMark Twain Park is special for many reasons. Not only was the Park District able to work

with Community Consolidated School District 21, but it presented an excellent opportunity to provide a neighborhood park to an underserved area and upgrade an aging playground. As a result, the park not only enhances the Dunhurst neighborhood but, during school hours, serves as an extension of the learning environment promoting fitness, creative play and social skills like cooperation and sharing.

Following the People-Drive process, the Park District engaged residents, students and staff at Mark Twain School in the design process. Inclusiveness played a key role in the Twain playground design. Children of differing abilities and interests can discover and play together in this park.

Financing, in part, for this park project came from a $75,000 matching grant that was awarded by the Illinois Parks and Recreations Association, GameTime, Playcore and Cunningham Recreation. With the grant came an agreement to be a National Demonstration Site in which data will be collected to provide quantifiable evidence on the value of inclusive play.

In July 2017, the playground was opened and now stands as a symbol for what can be accomplished when governing bodies work together for the betterment of their residents.

Creating better play spaces for Wheeling neighborhoods

until all bids have been reviewed.The majority of funding will come from the Park District Capital Project Fund. The Park

District will not issue a referendum seeking additional financial support from the community, nor will the District seek a higher tax increase.

Should the overall CRC project budget be approved by the Park District Board of Commissioners, the project plan will move forward immediately. It is expected to take 18 months to complete the entire project. This will be a phased project allowing programming and services to continue throughout the duration of construction.

Architectural Rendering: The area in light grey shows where the new Fitness Center, group exercise space and gymnasium will be located. The glass, curved outer wall improves light and visibiliy in the new space.

The Wheeling Park District Board of Commissioners recently approved the 2017 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, a broad-based strategic blueprint for the District. The Plan focuses on redevelopment, growth, and enhancement of parks, recreation, and open space systems over the next three years. The District’s Communitywide Survey, parks and recreation trends, staff interviews, and overall research of the District were used to develop and guide the findings and recommendations. This plan is an update to the original strategy adopted by the Park Board of Commissioners in 2007.

The 2017 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan identified specific Key Findings related to the District’s organization, programs, and facilities and parks. From there, Key Recommendations with specific Major Initiatives for the District to pursue over the life of the Plan were outlined. The next key component will be the District’s Strategic Plan, to be completed in March of

2018, that will lay out the specific goals and objectives the District will pursue to address the Key Recommendations in the 2017 Comprehensive Plan.

One significant highlight was the recommendation of a new Strategic Initiative: Environmental Stewardship. As a public agency dedicated to parks, recreation, and open space, the Park District is in a unique position to take a leadership role across a wide spectrum of environmental practices to help ensure that residents have the tools to learn sustainability and be sustainable. Through policies, plans, and actions, Wheeling Park District leads the community in implementing best environmental management practices that can be beneficial to residents and the community, now and in the future.

The 2017 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan is available in its entirety on the Park District’s website at wheelingparkdistrict.com. Residents are encouraged to review the report to keep abreast of the District’s long-term plans.

A Comprehensive Plan for now and the future The Aquatics Staff went five for five rating an “exceeds” on all five unannounced audits this year highlighting the importance Wheeling Park District places on water safety. Evaluations are conducted by the international aquatic safety and risk management consulting firm Ellis and Associates. Unannounced Aquatic Safety Operational Audits are designed to identify potential risk exposures before they become catastrophic and to provide recommendations designed to reduce and/or eliminate those risks. Wheeling Park District lifeguards exceeded standards in vigilance and surveillance, patient care and emergency action plans, and operations and maintenance. In addition to earning the highest possible rating, two lifeguards, Jackie Broms and David Quiroz, received the Golden Guard award. Fewer than 100 guards nationally earned this ranking in 2017.

Broms

Quiroz

←Pounds of recycled cardboard in 2017! The Park District has recycled a total of 56,685 lbs. of cardboard since 2015.23k←Number of participants at the

Heritage Park Sports Complex this year.91.1k

←Number of slides through-out the park site locations. The longest one is the height of an average two-story building. →41 24¹

continued from page 1

2017 Aquatics Department Lifeguard Staff