The groups goals are to make their parks safe, clean and usable, and to encourage everyone kids, families, seniors, athletes and nature lovers to become active park patrons. In addition to fund-raising and awareness efforts, they are the innovators of creative park events and programs such as the Chicago Jazz Fest in Grant Park, Chicago's first marathon and the first cross country ski clinic in a Chicago park. At the Quincy Park District, volunteer citizens tend to flower beds and special gardens, help coordinate events and provide behind the scenes support. They sell concessions at the annual July Boat Regatta. While volunteers can never replace paid employees, they can greatly enhance the quality of an already existing program or service.
Volunteers can assist park districts, forest preserves and recreation agencies in a variety of ways.
Those who have given up on volunteers should take new look at the advantages of encouraging volunteerism within their agency. Many of our park districts would be severely affected without the services of volunteers. In some agencies, Dr. Ted Flickinger lAPD Executive Director While volunteers can never replace paid employees, they can greatly enhance the quality of an already existing program or service. Without volunteers, we would be lost. There is no better time than now to involve more citizens in carrying the banner for parks and recreation.