Mid-Winter 2010

Student Government Leaders Take Action  
     Are you ready for an 18-hole miniature golf course at the Community Recreation Center? How about four paddle tennis courts and a paddle hut located in Gillson Park? These items were recently approved at a Student Government mock meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners.
     Eighth grade students from St. Francis Xavier School spent several weeks during the fall researching projects which also included adding amenities to the Centennial Family Aquatic Center such as a lazy river and a wave pool. Total price tag for the students’ proposals would have been about  $8.8 million, but the most expensive item--$7.5 million for the Aquatic Center amenities—was deemed in need of more research and tabled by the student board.
     Twelve students participated in this year’s Student Government program which included meetings with Park District staff and Board Commissioners to learn how this branch of local government operates. When choosing topics for discussion students focused on initial cost of a project, neighbors’ reactions to proposals and operating costs after construction.
     Participants this year included Joe Dixon, Tim Eberle, Nico Capitanini, Charlie Floyd, Frankie Tobin, Richie Rosean, Charlie Hassen, Maria O’Sullivan, Mark Bredemann, Jake Skarzynski, Jamie O’Brien and Mikeala Kroop.

Still shopping?
Last Minute Gift Ideas    
 One-of-a-kind Gillson Park ornaments have become available in a limited quantity and are being sold to benefit the Wilmette Park District’s Family Scholarship Fund. These hand-painted relief sculptures measure 3½ inches in diameter and come gift boxed with a ribbon for hanging. The ornaments are being sold for $20. Click here to purchase online or walk in to the Park District’s Administrative Office in Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Avenue. 

     You might also consider giving the gift of wellness with holiday gift certificates to the Center Fitness Club. Click here to purchase gift certificates online. Purchases can also be made over the phone or in person at the Center Fitness Club, located in the Community Recreation Center, 3000 Glenview Rd., Wilmette. Gift certificates can be used for anything at the club including membership fees, personal training and group exercise classes. For more information call the Center Fitness Club at 847-256-9117.

New Room Available For Rentals At Lakeview Center 
     The Lakeview Center, set in scenic Gillson Park, now has a second room available for meetings and special event rentals. The Gillson Room can accommodate 18 people with tables and 32 without. It is just the right size for small meetings, business seminars, classes or an intimate luncheon or tea.
     The Gillson Room is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (two hour minimum) and also evenings and weekends until midnight (three hour minimum).
     Need a little extra space for that party you are planning in the Lakeview Room? The Gillson Room can be added to your rental for a special rate. Kitchen facilities are available. The Gillson Room is available for rental between Labor Day and Memorial Day. 
     Call the Lakeview Center in Gillson Park at 847-256-9656 for available dates, fees and more information.

Paddle Tennis Survey
     Due to interest expressed by some Wilmette residents, a Committee of the Wilmette Park District’s Board of Park Commissioners is seeking input on the feasibility of constructing four Paddle Tennis courts and an adjoining hut.
     Paddle tennis, also known as platform tennis, is a sport played outdoors on courts half the size of a regular tennis court. It is played predominantly during the winter. Paddle tennis facilities in our area that are open to the public can be found in Winnetka and Lake Bluff. The location of a possible Wilmette paddle tennis facility is yet to be determined. 
     Click here to participate in a survey about paddle tennis. This quick survey will take only a few minutes of your time and your input will help the Committee decide whether to proceed with consideration of this activity.

Next Phase of Lakefront Plan Preparing to Launch
     The Wilmette Park District is preparing to launch the next phase in the development of a Master Lakefront Plan for its operations at Gillson and Langdon Parks along with the Swimming and Sailing Beaches. Planning efforts will move into the arenas of fact-finding and brainstorming as the general public is tapped for information addressing the needs and desires of the community. 
     This phase will be coordinated by JJR, a consultant working with the Park District. The preliminary groundwork of mapping out infrastructure and identifying what currently exists at the lakefront was completed by JJR in July 2009. An Analysis Summary Report detailing issues and opportunities along Wilmette’s lakefront was presented to the Park District's Parks & Recreation Committee in 2009. Click here to review the report. 
     The work to be done in 2010 includes the formation of a commission of Park Board members, staff, residents, state and federal representatives to address issues surrounding the existing sites, facilities and infrastructure. Input from architectural, engineering, surveying, landscape design and lakeshore experts is expected to be an integral part of the process. Public input will be solicited extensively through a variety of means including meetings and surveys.
       By way of background, the Wilmette Park District currently owns two parcels of land on Lake Michigan just north of Chicago. The largest parcel is Gillson Park, which is a 59-acre site located at Michigan Avenue and Sheridan Roads. The second parcel is Langdon Park, located at the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Sheridan Road, which is 3.4 acres.

Park District Receives Risk Management Award
     The Wilmette Park District has received a rating of 98.88% on a Loss Control Review conducted by the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA), an intergovernmental risk pool of 150 park and recreation agencies in Illinois. As a result, the Park District has once again been accredited by PDRMA—the agency’s highest award—and will receive a check for $1,500 each year for the next three years.
     The review, which takes a year to complete, is conducted every three years. It is a comprehensive look at all park district facilities and the district’s administration which evaluates areas such as accountability, claims management, employee management, property management, training and orientation, loss experience, and policies and procedures. The district’s overall risk management program and implementation of PDRMA’s Loss Control Guidelines are all subject to analysis in the review.
     PDRMA has emphasized loss prevention since its inception in 1984. Its’ practices have proven that well conceived measures can dramatically reduce losses, significantly lower membership insurance costs and preserve the recreational experience for both park district patrons and employees.