Cary Park District Winter/Spring 2017 Program Guide | Page 5

Park District News Jamesway Park Playground Replacement Illinois Association of Park District’s Employment & Revenue Survey Construction at Jamesway Park is nearly complete and is scheduled to open late fall. The park will have two new play structures suitable for children 6 months - 3 years and 2 - 12 years, benches, accessible picnic tables, and a concrete path to improve the overall site and play area accessibility. This summer the Cary Park District participated in an employment and revenue survey conducted by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD). Data from 2015 was collected and compared with Park Districts, Forest Preserves/Conservation Districts, and Special Recreation Associations from all over the state and the key findings are: l The Cary Park District is a significant local employer, providing 224 jobs. l 68% of the agency’s employees live within the District which outperforms both countywide and suburban benchmarks. l 54% of those employed by the Park District are age 25 and younger. l More than a third (38%) of the District’s total revenue comes from non-tax sources, including earned revenue such as program fees, memberships, and rentals, etc. Another 4% comes from other non property tax sources such as grants and donations. The completion of Jamesway Park is the third playground replacement since 2014. The next playgrounds to be replaced are Hampton and Fox Trails Parks. Comprehensive Master Plan Implementation Now that the Comprehensive Master Plan Update is complete the Park Board and staff have direction for the next 5 - 10 years. Implementation of the action plan is underway. The first two items the Park District will complete is the development of a Disc Golf Course in Hoffman Park and an update to the Cary-Grove Park Master Plan. In the spring of 2017 work will begin on site Master Plans for both Lions and Kaper Parks. The site master plan projects will explore opportunities in these park sites to address community needs determined during the Comprehensive Master Plan development. Disc golf will expand the District’s abilities to meet under served populations of teens and young adults. It is also appealing to families and is an opportunity for residents to get outside and enjoy the park. If you would like to stay up to date on these projects, please visit carypark.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. “We are pleased to see how we compare with other agencies across the state.” said Dan Jones, Executive Director of the Park District. “The Park District is often a first job for a teen or young adult. These experiences teach communication, leadership, customer service, and responsibility, all important skills which will serve our teens and young adults well in future careers.” Cary Park Foundation Scholarships In the past two years, the Park Foundation has awarded $2,000 in scholarships to six local students. These scholarships are intended to help with current or future educational needs. In an effort to keep this program going the Foundation is seeking donations for this program. Donations are tax deductible as the Foundation is a 501(c)(3). Students interested in applying for a scholarship must be attending a college, university, or trade school in the fall of the current year and be a current or former employee with the Park District or have significant volunteer experience with the Park District. The scholarship application will be available in the spring. For more information on the Cary Park Foundation or to make a donation to the Foundation for future scholarships, please contact Dan Jones, Executive Director at 847.639.6100 or [email protected]. www.carypark.com | 3