55

Thea publication of the Bloomingdale Park District

NEWS

Mission StatementThe Mission of the Bloomingdale Park District is to efficiently and economically provide recreation programs, facilities and open spaces

designed to provide enjoyable leisure time experiences that benefit the community.

As I look back on the events of this past summer, there are many that remind me of the benefits of your Park District. We started the season on a crisp day at the annual Bloomingdale-Roselle Rotary Club Fish Release. Dozens of our youngest friends stocked the waters of Lakeview Park with fish that keep our waterways healthy and hydrated. It is always a fun and well-attended event.

Throughout the summer, thousands attended the concert series at Old Town Park, swam at The Oasis Water Park, had a free dinner at National Night Out and simply enjoyed themselves relaxing at one of our other facilities and/or parks. A few weeks ago, we wound down the season with the fishing derby at Lakeview Park where some of those same children caught and released the same fish they had put in the lake just a few months before.

All of those events, as well as dozens more, were made possible, in part, by the partnerships we have formed in our community. It is because of the sponsorship fees collected that we are able to offer the many programs and events at no additional cost to our resident taxpayers. Over the past five years, we have seen the assessed valuation of our taxable properties, both residential and commercial, continue to drop, which, in turn, reduces the amount of tax dollars the District collects. Besides program fees, the Park District has no other sources of revenue upon which to rely.

In order to maintain our facilities to the standards of the community and still provide the programs and activities to which we have all become accustomed, management has cut budgets, eliminated personnel and doubled individual responsibilities to make ends meet. However, that has only been part of the solution.

Through the efforts of our senior staff, a number of partnerships have been formed including Bloomingdale Bank & Trust, Ducat Chiropractic & Sports Medicine, Stratford Square Mall, Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, Salerno’s Rosedale Chapel, Hilton Indian Lakes Resort, Associated Dental Care, Friendly Ford, Anyway’s American Grill & Pub, Sunrise Chevrolet, Sports Authority and Bloomingdale School of Music – all of whom contribute monetarily, through the use of their facilities or in another way. I urge you to remember their participation when services are needed that they may supply.

Before I sign off for this issue, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our biggest event of the summer, the dedication of the all new, fully-accessible playground at Sunnyside Park! That location was chosen after a careful review by Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) showed the greatest concentration of residents with special needs lived nearby.

Made possible, in part, by a grant from the equipment manufacturer, the park opened to rave reviews by the hundreds who attended the ribbon cutting. Led by State Senator Tom Cullerton, State Representative Michelle Mussman and U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, who left her wheelchair to give one of the slides a go, a host of local officials and children from Marklund Children’s Home, WDSRA and the neighborhood made great use of the new facility on a glorious, sunny day. If you haven’t seen it yet, please do so. You won’t be disappointed.

Sincerely,

Sebastian “Buzz” PuccioPresident Bloomingdale Park District Board of Commissioners

Winter-Spring 2013-14

The Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. in the community room of the Johnston Recreation Center. The public is invited to attend. Minutes and agendas are available online at www.bloomingdaleparks.org.

Board of CommissionersBuzz Puccio ..........................................................PresidentKaren Johns ..................................................Vice PresidentAndre Burke .........................................................TreasurerMike Vogl .................................................... CommissionerMichael Childress ........................................ Commissioner

Buzz Puccio

55

If you’ve ever taken an aqua fitness class, enrolled your child in one of our musical programs or simply attended one of our seasonal special events (Winter Carnival, Bunny Bash, Summer Concerts, etc.), you’ve surely noticed a local business supporting the Park District.

Most recently, the Park District hosted its first Fall Fitness Open House, sponsored by local partners Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, Sports Authority and Ducat Chiropractic & Sports Medicine.

In case you missed it, Adventist GlenOaks provided blood pressure and pulmonary screenings with several doctors on hand to evaluating aches & pains. Ducat Chiropractic & Sports Medicine provided functional strength testing as well as chair massages. Sports Authority offered discount coupons and free water bottles and cups. In addition to special sign-up offers, Costco Wholesale provided water and snacks for fitness participants.

All of these services not only contributed to an enhanced experience, but they provided benefits to participants that the Park District is simply unable to offer on its own. Such partnerships and sponsorships also benefit the businesses, which attain person-to-person contact and the chance to market their services.

Other Park District community partnerships that benefit residents are listed below.

• With no in-house equipment or studio space, the Park District partners with Bloomingdale School of Music to offer classes in flute, guitar, piano, violin, voice lessons and more for all ages and abilities. Additionally, Bloomingdale School of Music generously sponsors the annual Bloomingdale’s Got Talent competition held every summer.

• As any Park District participant knows, there is no indoor pool at the BPD. However, by partnering with Indian Lakes Resort, the Park District is able to offer a variety of aqua fitness classes and programs year-round. Look for more recreational offerings at Indian Lakes in the future.

• Ducat Chiropractic & Sports Medicine, which was awarded first runner-up for 2012 Best Friend of Illinois Parks – Small Business by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), does more than just serve as a sponsor for the Fitness Open House, Lunchtime Funtime Children’s Entertainment Series and the Sunrise Shuffle 5K. The valued local partner also offers a highly-popular Walk-to-Run program through the Park District that conditions prospective runners to race three miles safely and effectively. Check out the Walk-to-Run program and Speedwork for Faster Running, also led by Ducat Chiropractic, in the Adult Fitness & Sports section (pages 22-34).

• In addition to serving as a sponsor for Winter Carnival, Bunny Bash and the Lunchtime Funtime Children’s Entertainment Series, Associated Dental Care also regularly talks to the Park District’s preschool classes, before- and after-school programs and summer camps about dental health. The result has a long-lasting effect on the community by teaching youngsters proper dental practices, keeping teeth functional and healthy, finding and treating dental problems before they become major, and keeping everyone smiling brightly.

• You may notice in this brochure that some programs and classes are now scheduled at Stratford Square Mall. After partnering on a summer camp held at the mall this past summer, the camp space is now used by the Park District for additional programming. Stratford Square also generously donates its outer ring road as the official race course for the Sunrise Shuffle 5K.

• See the opposite page about Adventist GlenOaks Hospital and its recent award for 2013 Best Friend of Illinois Parks – Large Business by the IAPD.

The Park Bench News continued

56

Where community partnerships provide added benefits

Dr. Erin Ducat of Ducat Chiropractic & Sports Medicine administers a chair massage at the Fall Fitness Open House.

A representative from Adventist GlenOaks Hospital checks out a participant at the Fall Fitness Open House.

The Park Bench News continued

Adventist GlenOaks Hospital honored as Best Friend of Illinois Parks by the Illinois Association of Park DistrictsBloomingdale Park District valued partner Adventist GlenOaks Hospital was awarded Best Friend of Illinois Parks – Large Business by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) at its Best of the Best Awards Gala held September 27 at Wheeling Park District’s Chevy Chase Country Club.

“We are honored to receive this award for our partnership with the Bloomingdale Park District,” said Adventist GlenOaks Hospital Chief Executive Officer Bruce C. Christian. “Supporting the mission of the Park District and its fitness initiatives fits well with our practice’s passion to motivate the Bloomingdale community to become healthier through fitness and active lifestyles.”

The Park District nominated Adventist GlenOaks Hospital because of its support, involvement and the impact the business has had on BPD residents (primarily in the area of health and wellness).

“It is so rewarding for us to be able to partner with an organization whose mission and focus on wellness is so incredibly aligned with our mission and focus,” said Bloomingdale Park District Executive Director Carrie Fullerton. “Adventist GlenOaks Hospital supports the park district’s interest in taking a proactive approach in making health and wellness accessible to all of our residents.”

To learn more about Adventist GlenOaks Hospital and its partnership with the Bloomingdale Park District, visit www.bloomingdaleparks.org and click on “Be Involved” in the top menu bar and then “Corporate Partnership” on the drop-down menu.

57

Adventist GlenOaks Hospital and Bloomingdale Park District were honored at the Illinois Association of Park Districts Best of the Best Awards Gala Sept. 27 at Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling. Adventist Glenoaks received the award for Best Friend of Illinois Parks - Large Business. The Park District received a 50th Anniversary award, and Commissioner Mike Vogl received a 15-Year Service Anniversary award. Pictured are (from left) Commissioner Vogl, BPD Director of Marketing & Communications Josh Hendricks, AGH Community Partnerships Specialist Emily Goulding, AGH Chief Nursing Officer Maria Knecht, AGH Administrative Director of Marketing and Service Line Development Erin Gerber and BPD Executive Director Carrie Fullerton.

Corporate Partners/Sponsors

Sunrise Shuffle 5K RecapThe annual Bloomingdale Parks Foundation Sunrise Shuffle 5K, presented by Sunrise Chevrolet, was held October 6 at Stratford Square Mall. Doubling its numbers from the previous year, the United States and Track and Field-certified course started and finished on the south side of the mall. Following the race, participants were treated to a complimentary buffet at Anyway’s American Grill & Pub, located just minutes away at 304 W. Army Trail Road.

Proceeds from the run benefitted the Bloomingdale Parks Foundation, which is dedicated to helping the Bloomingdale Park District provide great recreation programs and open spaced while also assisting individuals gain access to programs, enhancing current programs and making improvements to all of BPD’s parks.

The Foundation thanks the following sponsors and in-kind contributors:

The Park Bench News continued

About Sunrise ChevroletIn addition to serving as the title sponsor of the Bloomingdale Park Foundation’s Sunrise Shuffle 5K, Sunrise Chevrolet is proud to serve the Glendale Heights, Chicago, Glen Ellyn and Schaumburg area with high quality Chevrolet vehicles. With models like the 2014 Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, Impala and Camaro, we have something for every taste and need. Come visit us at 414 East North Avenue in Glendale Heights to see our vehicles and take one for a test drive.

If you’re looking for a used car for sale, we can assist you there as well. Visit our used car inventory page at www.sunrisechevrolet.com to see our large collection of pre-owned and used vehicles for sale.

Sunrise Chevrolet is not just your local Chevrolet dealership, we also provide a full line of services dedicated to our Illinois customers. From Chevrolet car repairs performed by expert mechanics, to OEM Chevrolet auto parts and accessories, to car loans, Sunrise Chevrolet is the smart choice for your automotive needs.

Come in and say Hi!

Sunrise Chevrolet 414 E. North Ave.Glendale Heights, IL 60139Phone: (800) 493-5148

Sales HoursMonday 9am-9pmTuesday 9am-9pmWednesday 9am-9pmThursday 9am-9pmFriday 9am-9pmSaturday 9am-6pmSunday Closed

Service HoursMonday 7am-8pmTuesday 7am-8pmWednesday 7am-8pmThursday 7am-8pmFriday 7am-8pmSaturday 7am-3pmSunday Closed

58

Bloomingdale Parks FoundationThe Bloomingdale Parks Foundation is an organization dedicated to helping the Park District provide great recreation programs and open space while also assisting individuals to gain access to programs, enhancing current programs and making improvements to all of BPD’s parks.

The Foundation was established in 1994 as a not-for-profit organization. Its primary purpose is to develop alternate sources of funding for Bloomingdale Park District facilities and recreation programs, and to provide opportunities for all Park District participants. The Foundation holds a 501-C3 status from the IRS.

Contact the Park District at (630) 529-3650 or visit www.bloomingdaleparks.org for information about volunteering or becoming a foundation member.

The Park Bench News continued

59

Support the Bloomingdale Parks Foundation this holiday season by getting all of your gifts wrapped at Stratford Square Mall! Visit www.bloomingdaleparks.org for times and locations or to volunteer!

Tentative Dates: December 18-24

Holiday Gift Wrap

Board of DirectorsFrank Saverino, Jr. – Chair

Jerry Marshall – Treasurer

Gerace Olson

Rick Tayfel

Ann Nebel

Michael Hovde, Jr.

Josh Hendricks – Secretary, BPD Director of Marketing &

Communications

Carrie Fullerton – Ex-Officio, BPD Executive Director