By Ted Flickinger, Ph.D. IAPD Executive Director T here are 2100 locally elected men and women who serve without compensation on park district and forest preserve boards throughout Illinois. These board members are responsible for the governing policies of 302 park districts and forest preserves who employ more than 43,000 individuals. Park district boards keep democracy green at the roots. Citizen boards are a democratic aspect of our society and help the park districts and forest preserves remain closer to the needs of people.
Board members are taxpayers who serve the best interest of the taxpayers.
They are the pulse of the community the sounding board, the buffer and the partner who assist the Director and professional staff in assessing and meeting the citizens' interests and needs. Citizen board members can motivate fellow citizens to improve and expand park and recreational services. We know that these board members have been around for more than 100 years helping to develop the Illinois park district system, which is recognized as being the best system for the local delivery of park and recreational services in the nation. The historical sights, zoos, museums, botanical gardens, golf courses and other recreational areas and facilities annually bring millions of tourist dollars to the state of Illinois. Eighteen of Illinois' top 25 travel attractions ranked by attendance are areas and facilities operated by park districts, forest preserves and the Department of Conservation.