620 E. Riverside Ave. • Decatur, IL 62521 • 217-422-5911 • www.decatur-parks.orgMay 2013

Customer Service Tip

Grant Park Renovation Kick-Off

On Thursday, April 4, members of the Decatur Park District, ADM, Robertson Charter School, and the City of Decatur joined together at Grant Park to kick-off the park’s new renovation project. The renovation was made possible thanks to a $90,000 donation from ADM. During the event, Park District President Chris Riley applauded ADM and the city for their joint effort and support in making this project possible. In addition to the playground, city and park district employees will complete a walking trail, pavilion, basketball court, and improvements to the baseball diamond. The updated park will benefit not only the immediate area, but also Robertson Charter School’s 375 students. Bishop G.E. Livingston, president of Robertson Charter School, believes that this is an “excellent opportunity so that people don’t have to drive across town to jog or walk or be healthy and take care of themselves physically.” On Saturday, April 13, ADM and Robertson Charter School volunteers helped erect the park’s new playground. The rest of the park’s renovation will be completed this summer.

GRANT PARK PROJECT

AIRPORT FUN DAY

EMPLOYEE UPDATE

FIT TIP

By Emily Fitzgerald

May 11Zippy Zoo Day with MomNoon - 4 p.m.Scovill Zoo

Youth Baseball & Softball Opening Day9 a.m.Rotary Park

May 24Scovill Zoo Open12:15 p.m. shotgun startHickory Point Golf Course

May 25Airport Fun Day8 - 11 a.m.Decatur Airport

May 29National Senior Health & Fitness Day8 - 11 a.m.DISC

Active listening is a technique that allows the listener to understand, interpret and evaluate what someone is really asking. You do this by re-stating or paraphrasing what you have heard in your own words, to confirm the understanding of both parties.

Mark Your Calendars!

ADM & Robertson Charter School volunteersbuilding the playground on April 13.

Ground breaking ceremony on April 4.

yond the appearance of nicely toned muscles. Your balance and coor-dination will improve, as will your posture. More importantly, if you have poor flexibility and balance, strength training can reduce your risk of falling by as much as 40 per-cent, a crucial benefit, especially as you get older.

Strength training plays a role in disease prevention. Studies have documented the many wellness benefits of strength training. If you have arthritis, strength training can be as effective as medication in de-creasing arthritis pain.

Here’s to You...Park Notes May 2013Fit Tip with Jeff: Benefits of Strength TrainingStrength training will add definition to your muscles and give men and women more fit and toned bodies. Working out with weights also impacts other areas of your body:

Strength training protects bone health and muscle mass. After puber-ty, whether you are a man or a woman, you begin to lose your bone and mus-cle strength every year. One of the best ways to stop, prevent, and even reverse bone and muscle loss is to add strength training to your exercise routine.

Strength training helps you devel-op better body mechanics. Strength training has benefits that go well be-

Customer ServiceThe season is kicking into full speed and employees have become extremely busy. Days can be hectic but you can always decide the attitude you bring to the office. Author Eric Harvey offers this bit of advice: “Adopt the attitude that your fellow co-workers are your customers too. Give the same respect and attention to them that you want them to give their customers.” Let’s keep a positive attitude with a smile and go team!

Airport Fun Day!Airport Fun Day is on Saturday, May 25 from 8 - 11 a.m. featuring a display by the Army National Guard, the Park District’s Striker emergency vehicle, and a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Air Choice One Vouchers AvailableTo help the airport reach 10,000 enplanements in 2013, Air Choice One is offering the community round trip vouchers for $40. The vouchers must be used by the last week of August 2013. Please contact Emily Fitzgerald at the Admin office if interested.

AnniversariesEmployee anniversaries during the month of May include: Janet Alderson, DISC (1 year)Larry Bond, Rangers (9 years) Patty Bosler, Scovill Golf (19 years)Kevin Farnham, Fleet (1 year)Lisa Gillen, Marketing (7 years)Amy Hagood, DISC (1 year)Sparkle Hill, Recreation (2 years)Jim Kiefer, Parks (10 years)Dalton Lamb, Fleet (1 year)Rebecca Lloyd, Big Creek (1 year)Mike Mudd, Airport (34 years)Bill Otta, DISC (6 years)Kristi Orrick, Admin (1 year)Heather Purdeu, Scovill Zoo (16 years)Paul Sunderland, Fleet (10 years)Tim Wright, Airport (9 years)Congratulations!

Birthdays05/01 Steve Boldini, Airport05/03 Stephen Douty, HP Golf05/04 Patty Bosler, Scovill Golf05/05 Jerry Smith, Airport05/07 Sparkle Hill, Recreation05/09 Marc Black, Arts05/12 Mary Barnes, Scovill Zoo05/23 Rodney Lange, Construction05/27 Barb Chapman, DISC

Welcome New Park District Staff Members!

Steve ChabakChief Park Ranger

Tim BoulwarePark Ranger

Steve Chabak has a passion for serving the public and protecting and improving the environment. He retired from the Decatur Police Department in September, 2012 after 28 years of service. Following retirement, Steve worked as a ranger for the U.S. National Park Service and also worked at the Macon County Conserva-tion District. A long-time Decatur resident, Steve also served in the Coast Guard for 4 years. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology from UIS.

Tim Boulware recently retired from the Decatur Police Department after 25 years of service. He has extensive experience in the police patrol field. Special-ized assignments and training include certified juvenile office, bike officer, and plain clothes assignments in the Curfew Enforcement Unit and the Street Crimes Unit. Tim is married, the father of three, and a lifelong Decatur Resident.