The weather may be hot, but one of the delights of summer in Naperville is the rich variety of free cultural and family events available every weekend. There is something for everyone!

Continuing in the community tradition of free Thursday night band concerts by the Naperville Municipal Band in Central Park, the Naperville Park District has added its own events through the years.

Rollin' on the River offers Friday evening entertainment on the Riverwalk, appealing especially to the teen audience. Free concerts run from 7:00-9:00 p.m. each Friday, featuring talented local bands.  This year’s winners of the Naperville Park District Battle of the Bands competition take the stage on August 13, so if you missed them at Ribfest, here is your opportunity to hear best of the bands perform.  Concerts take place at the Riverwalk pavilion at Jackson and Webster Street.

On Friday, July 16, the Midsummer Shakespeare Troupe returns to Central Park to perform, “As You Like It.”  Directed by Toni Hix, the actors are able to use gestures, music, and humor to assist in making the language more understandable.  The characters are funny and will entertain even the youngest in the audience.  The show begins at 7 p.m.  at the Community Concert Center in Central Park at 104 E. Benton Avenue in downtown Naperville.

On Saturday, July 17, weekly Carillon recitals will continue, with Christine Power playing at noon and Tim Sleep playing at 7:00 p.m.  Sue Bergren plays at the Sunday recital at 4:00 p.m. on July 18. These free recitals can be heard throughout the Riverwalk area, and listeners are welcome to sit on the lawn at Rotary Hill as well.

At 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 18, Naperville’s own country musician and firefighter, Billy Croft, brings his band, Billy Croft and The 5-Alarm to May Watts Park, 804 S. Whispering Hills Drive, for the Park District’s Concert in Your Park series. Everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets for a Sunday evening of musical entertainment. Cold Stone Creamery ice cream will be available for purchase and prizes will be awarded at the end of the event.

This free event is made possible through sponsorships by Continental Motors of Naperville and Jackson Moving & Storage. “We are happy to support these fun, outdoor events,” said Sabrina Erskine of Continental Motors. “We hope that families will take advantage of the opportunity to relax and enjoy upbeat music in a beautiful park right in their community.”

Click here to learn more about upcoming Park District events.

Have you seen the new bicycle/pedestrian bridge at Knoch Knolls Park?  It’s a beautiful, amber-colored, arched bridge that is designed to be accessible to all.  Spanning the West Branch of the DuPage River, the bridge is part of Segment 4 of the DuPage River Trail, constructed by the City of Naperville, which will be open to the public later this year.
       On the new bridge: Jim Strong, Joanne Knoch Strong, Jean Knoch Wehrli, Francie Wehrli Chirico, Joe Kennedy,
          Mary Lou Wehrli, Annette Wehrli Kennedy, Michelle Wehrli, Grant Wehrli

 

           First bridge on "The Farm;" man on the left is unidentified, man on the right is Judge Win Knoch

The new trail and bridge will wind through the wooded acres of Knoch Knolls Park, ending at DuPage River Sports Complex at the corner of Washington Street and Royce Road. From that point, another segment of the trail, just completed by the Naperville Park District, continues through DuPage River Park going east to Whalon Lake Preserve.

Once Segment 4 is complete, along with the new bicycle tunnel at Washington Street and 75th Street, bicyclists will be able to ride from Burr Oak Park all the way to Whalon Lake Preserve on Royce Road on off-road trails.

This is wonderful news for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and those who enjoy the outdoors.

The new trails and bridge also will reveal more of the beauty of Knoch Knolls Park, which has been treasured by Naperville families for over 150 years.

Did you know....
Knoch Knolls Park originally was inhabited by the Potawatomi, and then, after settlement, was purchased by Stephen J. Scott. A plaque on site commemorates the Scott Settlement.

 

 
Plaque commemorating Scott Settlement and Knoch donation  

In 1934 the Fauth family of Aurora acquired the property. One of the Fauth’s daughters, Irene, married Win Knoch. The Knoch family owned the land until the late 1970s, when they transferred a large portion of the property to the Naperville Park District and generously donated the 13-acre Scott Settlement site to be enjoyed by the community.

"The Farm" 
There are many descendants of Win and Irene Knoch living in the Naperville area today, including a branch of the well-known Wehrli family. To speak about their memories of Knoch Knolls Park, which they affectionately call “The Farm,” makes them smile. “We love to come to The Farm,” said Annette Wehrli Kennedy, granddaughter of Judge Knoch. “It always makes me happy to be in this place, and to think about the memories we have here.”

Knoch Knolls was farmed for many years by Frank Molitor in partnership with the Knochs. The Molitor family  lived in a house across from the farm on the north side of Knoch Knolls Road. A pig shed and corn crib stood where the Wigwam building is now, and a 2-story dairy barn was located on the west side of the gravel entrance. Crops included corn, soybeans, vegetables, and at one time, a Victory Garden. Dairy cows grazed in the woods and fields, bordered by an electric fence that the children sometimes dared one another to touch.

The Knoch family lived on Main Street in Naperville. Much of the family’s time was spent at The Farm often including friends and colleagues and extended family.  Eighth grade class parties were a big favorite as were Knoch Thanksgivings.

Some of the Knoch grandchildren, now adults, including Mary Lou Wehrli, Francie Chirico, Annette Wehrli Kennedy, and Grant Wehrli, met at the new bridge for a photo in late June 2010. Also joining the group were 2 of the 4 Knoch daughters, Jean Knoch Wehrli and Joanne Knoch Strong, and a great-grandchild, Joe Kennedy.

 

   Two of Judge Win and Irene Knoch's four daughters, Joanne and Jean. Not pictured here are Marge Knoch Schaller and Doris Knoch Wood.  

The Wigwam
The Knoch family clarified that the first Wigwam was not the building at the park entrance that now houses the Park District’s early childhood programs, but was a farm shed, located across the river, enhanced with a fireplace, large windows, kitchen, indoor plumbing, and banquet tables. The Wigwam did not stand alone, but was part of a wonderful family gathering area that included a cottage, a 2-story playhouse with a balcony, a large, outdoor fireplace, a shuffleboard court, a baseball field, and a golf net. There was a pump house for the well , a 2-seater outhouse, and a more rustic machine shed for storage.

The children loved the playhouse, but also enjoyed exploring the woods and the river. Grant Wehrli recalls duck hunting and building forts and dams on “Treasure Island,” a small island downstream ,created for a sawmill active from 1836 the late 1840s. Grant's father, Don Wehrli, used to give the kids rides in his Ford tractor, thrilling them by lowering them in the front bucket almost to the river. Grant also remembers riding on his father’s lap when the tractor was used for mowing, and listening to the deafening sound of the cicadas in the woods.

A community treasure
Although the original farm is no longer in operation and the old buildings and bridges have disappeared, the unspoiled beauty of the land remains, thanks to the foresight and generosity of Judge Win G. Knoch and his wife, Irene. Knoch Knolls Park is open for all to enjoy, and will soon be even more accessible with the opening of the new bridge and bike trail.  
                                                                                                                                                                  

  

      Remains of the original Wigwam at Knoch Knolls Park  

                                                                          

Dance is the art form that is most likely to move me to tears. There is something about the grace of the dancers, paired with the grandeur of the music that conveys beauty in a powerful way.

Dance also has the power to attract students, who, from a very young age, develop a passion for dancing that becomes a driving force in their life.

For Metea Valley High School junior Miriam Kotacka, her passion for dance began at age 4 when she enrolled in the Naperville Park District’s dance program. “My parents registered me for dance classes at the Park District when we first moved here as a way to meet new friends,” said Miriam. “I fell in love with ballet and have been dancing ever since.”

The Naperville Park District’s Concert Dance Ensemble was founded in 1997 to foster young students’ love of dancing and to give them the discipline, training, and experiences that prepare them for further study of dance, including pursuit of a professional career in dance.

Two years ago, Miriam spoke with Melissa Sallée, artistic director of the Concert Dance Ensemble, about her desire to pursue a career in dance.  Sallée advised Miriam to audition for the Salt Creek Ballet—a regional company where Sallée obtained some of her professional experience.

Miriam has been dancing with Salt Creek since 2008, attending classes and rehearsals 2-3 hours per day, 7 days per week during the school year, and 5-6 hours per day, 5 days per week during the summer.

I asked her whether the time commitment to dance is hard for her as a high school student. “When you have such a passion, the hours and numbers don’t matter,” said Miriam. In fact, she plans to go right into professional dance after high school, and says she will manage to fit college courses into her schedule as well. In Miriam’s words, “I won’t ignore college; I will fit it in somehow.”

For those who love dance but are not yet ready to make it their career choice, the Naperville Park District’s Concert Dance Ensemble offers training that requires a more modest level of time and expense as compared to a regional company, while providing an excellent foundation for further study.

Miriam said that her experience with the Ensemble introduced her to the atmosphere of being in a pre-professional dance company, which helped her succeed at Salt Creek Ballet and on her high school’s dance team. She learned when to socialize with the other dancers and the choreographers—which helped her to find the personal connection with the choreography— and when it was time to get to work on the dance itself.

At Salt Creek, she has danced as one of the Arabians in the Nutcracker, and had the unique assignment of learning every role in Swan Lake, so that she could substitute for missing dancers in rehearsals.

Looking back over her 11-year dance experience, Miriam said that her favorite piece is “Hide and Seek,” set to music by Imogen Heap and choreographed by Melissa Sallee and two Concert Dance Ensemble members, Mollie Shanahan and Evanthia Vranas. Miriam performed this piece while she was dancing with the Concert Dance Ensemble. “Melissa Sallée introduced me to this type of dance, which is kind of modern. I fell in love with that too, in addition to ballet. I still have good memories of that piece.”

We wish Miriam well in her dance career and look forward to seeing her in future Salt Creek Ballet productions.

 

                                                                                                                                                          

We invite prospective dancers and parents to learn more about the Naperville Park District’s Concert Dance Ensemble and about the Naperville Park District’s Dance Academy. 

 

Naperville has many private, neighborhood swimming facilities with an active swim league, giving families opportunities for competitive swimming, swim lessons, and a pool close to home. However, there is one aquatics facility that serves the entire community and beyond:  historic, unique Centennial Beach.

Located in downtown Naperville, Centennial Beach offers a sandy beach, zero-depth shallow end with water play features and a slide, and four acres of grass with shade trees, beach chairs, umbrellas, and picnic tables. Swimmers can explore the deep end, swim laps in the lap lanes, practice diving from the high and low diving boards, or gather with friends on the rafts.

2010 is an exciting year for Centennial Beach! Plans are underway for a renovation of the Bathhouse, beginning after Labor Day. For the past two years, Naperville Park District staff has been working with architects and the Centennial Beach Review Team, a group of interested residents, to develop plans for improvements to the Bathhouse, the entrance and driveway, concessions, and access between the upper and lower levels of the Beach. Click here to view the plans and to learn more about the renovation process.

Kelly Doyle, one of the managers at the Beach and a member of the Centennial Beach Review Team, said that she is very excited about the coming improvements. “I like that the history and tradition will still be there.  It (the Bathhouse) will be upgraded but not totally re-done. It will be nicer, fresh and new.”After kicking off the season with a splash during the Pre-Season Plunge on May 16, Centennial Beach lifeguards and other staff will continue training and preparing for opening on May 29.

After kicking off the season with a splash during the Pre-Season Plunge on May 16, Centennial Beach lifeguards and other staff will continue training and preparing for opening on May 29. This year, children and adults will have the opportunity to take swim lessons through the nationally recognized Starfish Swim School. Both morning and evening lessons will be available. Individual and family season memberships can be purchased online or in person at the Park District Administration Building, the South Maintenance Facility, or at Centennial Beach (on May 29 and later).

Centennial Beach has something for everyone! Longtime Beachgoer Jill Vercace said, “I love the Beach.  It’s so big and sunny and comfortable.  You can actually swim and get a good workout.” Liz Marusin, a mother of young children, said that her children thoroughly enjoy their outings at the Beach. “The sand, the slide—it’s an attraction,”  said Liz. “Especially when the economy is not great, it’s a destination in the summer.”For more information about the Beach, including the 2010 schedule, the history, and photos, visit www.centennialbeach.org. 

 

 

Daring swimmers take the plunge at the first-ever Pre-Season Plunge on May 16.

Executive Director, Ray McGury, 5th from the right, joins the crowd in the icy waters.

I visited preschool the other day, curious to see what is happening at the Naperville Park District’s new nature preschool program, Toadstools & Pollywogs. How do the children like it? How is it different from other early childhood classes? What are the students learning about nature?

It was a beautiful spring day. As the children arrived, they hung up their tote bags and headed outdoors for free play for the first half hour. The teachers, Kristen and Majel, told me that on other days, they take the children on nature walks during their outdoor time. The children love both walks and free play, and are eager to go out in all seasons. Jumping in huge piles of leaves, sliding down the snowy slope near the classroom building, observing changes in the river, playing traditional childhood games, such as hopscotch, using magnifying glasses to catch a close-up view of budding leaves, and simply running through the fields—all are favorite activities at Toadstools & Pollywogs.

 

 An old-fashioned game of hopscotch.

 

 Running for joy on a spring day

Toadstools & Pollywogs meets at Knoch Knolls Park at 336 Knoch Knolls Road in the Wigwam, a small building near the entrance of the park. Knoch Knolls Park provides over 200 acres of natural areas, including the West Branch of the DuPage River, a creek, woodlands, fields, prairie, and trails. According to the teachers, the children never tire of exploring the park.  Even watching the dump trucks come and go during construction of the new bicycle trail or observing players arrive for a game of Frisbee golf fascinates them.

 

View of the Wigwam from the nearby creek

 

   Watching the dump truck

 In addition to bringing children outdoors to experience nature, the preschool brings nature inside the classroom. The children planted grass, chives, and several varieties of beans that are now growing in raised indoor garden beds in the classroom. One boy proudly counted all of the bean plants. Other children showed me the tiny frogs living in the aquarium.

 

Counting the bean plants

The teachers often engage the children in special nature-related projects that also help develop traditional kindergarten readiness. This past winter the children made necklaces of cereal and dried fruit for the outdoor animals, and later identified footprints of animals who had tasted these treats. A future project is to decorate a clay pot that will serve as a bird bath and a bird feeder.Over the course of the year the children learn good habits that promote sustainable living, such as recycling, bringing their own re-usable plates, cups, and spoons for snacks, and using both sides of each piece of paper when possible. These practices also carry over to the preschool families. For example, the teachers said that families often will take nature walks on the weekends, with the children leading the way. The preschool provides a magazine rack at the front door where parents and teachers can exchange magazines instead of just tossing them.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, children spend an average of 6 hours a day in front of the computer or television and only 4 minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play. Toadstools & Pollywogs Preschool is changing that. Seeing the smiles radiating from the children as they ran and played outside is proof enough to me that bringing children and nature together is a wonderful thing.

For more information, check these links:

To register for the 2010-2011 Toadstools & Pollywogs Preschool Program, click here

For ideas and supplies for gardening with children, check KidsGardening

For recycling and composting education, visit SCARCE

The Green Earth Institute at the Conservation Foundation, located across the street from Knoch Knolls Park, offers community supported agriculture and educational programs for children. The annual Green Earth Fair will be held on May 2, 2010.

 

  

Are you looking for ways to get outdoors as a family this spring and summer? Have you ever considered the game of golf as a kid-friendly, family-friendly activity?

Just as golf is known for its advantages in fostering business and professional relationships, the game of golf can provide a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your child—with the added benefits of enjoying nature and getting exercise.

“But I don’t play golf,” you might say.  You can learn along with your children in one of Naperbrook Golf Course’s Parent/Junior Clinics or start with adult beginner golf lessons at either Springbrook or Naperbrook Golf Courses. According to Ed Provow, director of golf services at both courses, kids love to learn along with their parents, partly because of the fun of mastering the new skills as fast as or even faster than their folks. 
 
What about the expense of golf?  As public facilities, these Naperville Park District courses, offer affordable lessons, clinics, range play, and greens fees.  Scholarships are available for those who qualify, and thanks to a recent “Sticks for Kids” grant, junior golf clubs are available for use at Naperbrook Golf Course at no charge. During Family Golf hours, 7 days a week, kids play for free. Other great values include range season memberships and 18-week junior memberships.

You can take advantage of special events throughout the season as well. For example, May is the PGA’s Free Lesson Month. At Springbrook and Naperbrook, a PGA golf professional will give a complimentary 10-minute lesson. Also coming up in May are the Meet the Pro days, featuring free lessons with our PGA pros: Saturday, May 8 at Springbrook and Saturday, May 29 at Naperbrook.

Golf is a lifetime sport that kids can enjoy with their families, beginning at a young age. Along with the social and athletic skills they acquire when learning the game, they also will benefit from the character development that is part of playing golf, with an emphasis on fostering honesty, integrity, courtesy, and respect.

Springbrook and Naperbrook continue to enhance opportunities for kids, families, and beginning golfers of all ages. Both courses just received Family Course Grants, sponsored by the National Park and Recreation Association and The PGA of America. These grants provide new course markers to designate the shorter beginning/family course, as well as instructional materials. 
 
Check out the following Links for more information.
We hope to see you out on the courses this season!

Links

For helpful tips on how to introduce your kids to the game of golf, visit Cybergolf. 
U.S. Kids Golf  explains how to fit clubs to children by age, height and skill level.
For more information on Springbrook Golf Course, visit: www.springbrookgolfcourse.org
For more information on Naperbrook Golf Course, visit: www.naperbrookgolfcourse.org

Did you know that park districts are one of the largest employers of youth in Illinois?  The Naperville Park District relies on teens as referees in our popular soccer program, as lifeguards, swim instructors, and guest services staff at Centennial Beach, as camp assistants, and in park maintenance.  Click here to check current job opportunities.

The Park District also offers classes to help get you start your own business as a babysitter.  In addition, keep in mind that there are classes to help you discover your talent for painting, cooking, music, or other activities that may lead to a career or a lifetime hobby. Click here for more information about Park District programs.

Although many high school students are busy with activities at their own schools, we know that they sometimes need something to do that’s just fun, different, and open to students from the whole community.   The Park District’s Youth Ambassadors plan community-wide special events for teens each year, such as Battle of the Bands, the Bags Tournament, and the Mr. Naperville contest. 

How do you get involved with the Youth Ambassadors?  To serve as one of the Youth Ambassadors from one of Naperville’s high schools requires a teacher recommendation, good academic standing, and leadership experience, either through a club, sport, or other activity. However, any student can participate in the annual events, and attendees are welcome to bring friends. 

One of the Youth Ambassadors representing Neuqua Valley High School this year, senior Keenan Kassar, said, “serving as a Youth Ambassador has been a great experience over all.”  The recent Leadership Conference for Youth Ambassadors and other student leaders was a productive time, according to Keenan, involving “lots of ideas…and great conversation.” 
 
The Youth Ambassadors Leadership Conference was held on Feb. 18 at the Riverwalk Community Center in downtown Naperville. Over 100 students attended, hearing keynote speaker, Mike Selep, CEO of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, and then brainstorming ways to incorporate the ideas into their specific clubs and activities and at their respective schools.

Lauren Bast, a Youth Ambassador from Waubonsie Valley High School, and also a senior, said that the Leadership Conference is the Youth Ambassador event she looks forward to the most.  “It’s the one opportunity we have to get together with kids from all of the Naperville high schools, from every kind of activity.” 

In addition to serving as a Youth Ambassador, Lauren has been involved with the Park District as a volunteer throughout her high school years. The summer prior to her freshman year, Lauren won a Naperville Park District photo contest and then began taking photographs of special events and programs for the Park District.  “I love my photo assignments,” said Lauren.  “It gives me an excuse to go where I normally would not go.” 

Lauren’s photos have appeared on the front cover of the Park District Program Guide many times.  At last summer’s dedication event for the WNBA’s Candace Parker (a former Naperville resident), Lauren served as the official Park District photographer, and once again, her photo was used for the Winter 2010 Program Guide cover.  Her experience as a volunteer has proved invaluable in preparing her for a career in photography.  “At the Candace Parker event, I got to be with the press, and learn from the professionals.  It was a great experience,” said Lauren. 

The Park District offers many volunteer opportunities to middle and high school students, ranging from simple, one-time projects, such as stuffing envelopes, to creative assignments, such as photography, and positions with ongoing responsibility, such as coaching a sport.  Click here for more information about volunteering at the Naperville Park District.

For teens looking for work, fun, or volunteer opportunities, your Park District offers a variety of activities and ideas.  Our staff is open to suggestions, and welcomes your ideas and enthusiasm.
   
                                       

          2010 Youth Ambassadors Leadership Conference

You’ve heard that “eat local” is the new “organic.”  While organically grown food offers many benefits, so does locally grown produce.  Naperville gardeners say that there’s nothing quite like growing the vegetables and fruits yourself.  If you have too much shade in your yard, or too many rabbits, or no yard at all, the Naperville Park District has a solution for you:  rent a garden plot!

The Community Garden Plots on West Street offer full size, half size, organic, and raised garden plots for first-time and returning gardeners.  Registration for garden plots will open to Naperville Park District residents on February 22nd and to nonresidents on March 8th.  Click here to see registration details and to view the 2010 Garden Plot Map.

Naperville residents, Don and Lorie Piel, have tended 2 garden plots at West Street for 19 years. “We really like connecting with the soil, working with our hands, and getting outside in all sorts of weather,” says Don Piel.  “It’s a calming influence.”  His wife, Lorie, agrees. “I love the beauty, the quiet, the alone time.  It’s a place to think, pray, and recharge.”

While gardeners enjoy the quiet time, they also value the feeling of community that grows each season. “We see our neighbors there, and meet people from different cultures as well.  We all go to the pump for water, and while we’re there, we swap recipes and ask advice,” says Lorie.

Gardening provides a well-rounded workout, including strength, flexibility, and endurance training.  Everyone can participate, from the smallest child to the grandparents, including those with special needs.

How does a beginning gardener get started?  Several organizations in our area are ready to answer your questions and to give instruction as you go, from selecting the seeds to enjoying the harvest. The University of Illinois Extension in DuPage County offers gardening classes and a gardening help line. Our local gardening clubs, the Naperville Community Gardeners and the Naperville Garden Club, offer programs and a wealth of information about gardening. Additionally, you can count on the other gardeners at the West Street Garden Plots to share advice as to what has worked for them.
 
As for the rewards of gardening, the harvest speaks for itself. “We have plenty for our family and lots to share with others,” says Lorie Piel. 

Many gardeners regularly donate fresh produce to Loaves and Fishes. Jody Bender, Community Relations Director for Loaves and Fishes, appreciates the gardeners’ generosity. “The community gardener program offered by the Naperville Park District has been an important part of the ability of Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry to provide fresh produce for our client families," said Bender.

To the gardeners, giving is part of the gardening culture and just one of the many benefits of time spent tending their crops. “We feel healthy,” remarked Lorie Piel.  “It’s the exercise, being out in nature, and actually eating the vegetables.  You do feel obliged to eat what you have grown, and that’s a good thing!”


One day's harvest from the Piels' garden in 2009

Don’t let the cold, dreary days of winter keep you indoors. Within minutes of your neighborhood, you can find a park with trails and walking paths that can provide the perfect setting for a brisk walk, run, or cross country ski outing. It’s amazing what getting out in the fresh air can do to revitalize your day.  Here’s a sampling of trails that the Naperville Park District offers in the north, central, and south sections of Naperville. 

North Parks Trails
The Riverwalk remains the most popular walking destination in Naperville. Even in winter, its charm and beauty attract walkers who enjoy the quiet atmosphere and well-maintained paths located in the heart of Naperville’s downtown. If you haven’t taken a walk lately, try a short walk on your lunch break, or bring the stroller and show the kids what’s happening along the river in winter. 

For a walk in the woods, try Burlington Park, located at 1003 Douglas Avenue or Seager Park, found at 1163 Plank Road. Parking is available on site at each of these parks.

Central Parks Trails
While the road construction continues along South Washington Street, the DuPage River Trail remains open for walking, running, bicycling, and inline skating. This popular trail segment begins at Burr Oak Park, continues through Veterans Park and Pioneer Park, ending at Hobson Road. Once the City of Naperville’s Washington Street and 75th Street intersection project is complete, the trail will pass under 75th Street and continue down Washington Street to Ring Road and Knoch Knolls Park.

Goodrich Woods, located at 25W507 Hobson Road, between Washington Street and Naper Boulevard, offers a peaceful, wooded setting with a loop trail. Interpretive signs identify some of the native plants found in the woods, so that you can enjoy a self-guided nature walk and learn about what will come to life here in the spring.

South Parks Trails
Our most extensive wooded trails are found at Knoch Knolls Park and DuPage River Sports Complex. There is plenty of room to cross country ski, walk, run, or snow shoe on the wider trails. These can be accessed most easily just west of the parking lot at DuPage River Sports Complex at 2807 S. Washington Street.

Springbrook Parkway, located at 2359 Nottingham Drive, provides an interesting place to walk, with trails following Springbrook Creek, just south of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s Springbrook Prairie.

If you would like to meet others who enjoy walking, check the upcoming walking events at Get Fit Naperville.

We hope you can get out and explore some of these wonderful trails!

As a grant writer at the Naperville Park District, I look for ways to enhance the Naperville Park District’s mission, programs, and parks with funding from the outside.

For example, an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is currently funding the improvements at Winding Creek Park. The $400,000 grant enabled us to add permeable pavers, wetland plantings, a multi-use path, and upgrades to the ball fields and playground at the park.

However, it’s eye opening to realize that the Park District’s efforts to save money through efficiencies result in an equally important source of budget relief from the inside.

Here are a few examples of these significant cost savings:

Significant savings in 2009-2010

The Naperville Park District’s renewed Aaa bond rating will result in ongoing savings in financing future capital projects. As announced at the January 14 board meeting, our business services department was able to re-finance a 2001 bond issue at significantly lower interest rates, creating a savings for the District of $159,000.

Through the 2009 construction season, competitive bids allowed the Park District to secure construction contracts for park development projects at 16% under budget.  The savings add up to more than $900,000.

Even our efforts to bring green technology and practices to the District have generated savings of over $60,000 just in 2009. 

Of course, outside grant funding, donations, sponsorships, and partnerships in the community provide support that is vital for our new initiatives and growth toward our vision as a park district.

Equally important, our commitment to efficient operations, effective planning, and flexibility as an organization on the inside will go a long way toward saving tax dollars as we work to fulfill our mission--to provide recreation and park experiences that enrich the quality of life for our community.