HR1332 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1332 LRB095 21441 GRL 50872 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the citizens of Gurnee and the employees and administration of the Gurnee Park District on the occasion of the park district's 40th anniversary in 2008; and

WHEREAS, The Gurnee Park District was formed on September 7, 1968, when the residents of Gurnee authorized the creation of the district in a local referendum; the park district spent its formative years developing a comprehensive park and recreation plan for the residents of the district; the park district serves as a municipal agency that continues to enhance Gurnee's quality of life and well-being while protecting its natural resources for the benefit of present and future citizens; and

WHEREAS, The Gurnee Park District developed its first park site, Viking Park, in 1973 and 1974; shortly after, numerous improvements were made to the park, including the restoration of the dance hall, the construction of a new restroom, concession building, and a lighted ball field, the expansion of the parking lot, and the addition of new playground equipment in 1984 and 1985; space for these improvements was procured through agreements for shared use of land with the Gurnee Grade School District and the Special Education District of Lake County; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, the Gurnee Park District leased the Gurnee Beach property from the Village of Gurnee and continued the swim program originally established by the village in 1958; in 1973, the park board joined the village officials in designing the facility as Verne Gowe Memorial Park in honor of Mr. Gowe, who had made significant contributions towards the development of the facility; in 1982, the village transferred the title of this property to the Gurnee Park District; throughout the years, the park district has improved this site to make it one of the most popular water parks in the area, featuring a clean, sandy beach, water slide, concessions, and a picnic area; and

WHEREAS, In 1977, the residents of the Gurnee Park District approved a referendum to generate funds for the acquisition and development of neighborhood parks and improvements to Viking Park and Gowe Memorial Park; with these funds, plus federal and State grants, the park district built Woodlawn Park and Chittenden Park and purchased the Russell Road park site; in 1992, the district completed construction of Russell Community Park, which features a large playground, basketball courts, 2 baseball fields, a parking lot, and a restroom/shelter building; and

WHEREAS, Through numerous donations by developers, additional park sites were acquired by the Gurnee Park District, including Prairie Oaks Park, which was completed in 1978; The sites for South Park and Cedar Park were donated by the Marriott Corporation and were built in cooperation with the Village of Gurnee in 1982; in 1991, Kings Park and Westgate Park were built; in 1992, the district completed Southridge Park, a park completely funded by developer donations; The first phase of the Pembrook Community Park in Pembrook was constructed in 1992; The Belle Plaine park site, located north of Grand Avenue in Gurnee, will provide neighborhood park facilities for the eastern portion of the village at a future date; and

WHEREAS, The Gurnee Park District's services extend far beyond Gurnee's parks; the park district operates school/park sites at Spaulding Grade School and O'Plaine School and continues to work with the school district and plans to maintain the open space at O'Plaine School; the park district also partners with the Warren Special Recreation Association to meet the needs of people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities, so that such people can participate in numerous social, educational, aquatic, camp, and sports programs; and

WHEREAS, In response to the Gurnee Park District's growing population and identification of leisure interest needs, the Board of Commissioners have a Master Plan for future developments, which includes the expansion of Viking Park for additional soccer fields and the completion of Pembrook Park, which features ball fields, a sand volleyball/ice rink, practice soccer fields, tennis courts, and a walkway system; the park district's 2008-2011 Strategic Plan includes initiatives to maintain and enhance standards of excellence in its parks and facilities, differentiate the park district through exceptional customer service, enhance its excellence in customer-driven programming, enhance the park district's image through effective marketing, maintain the financial stability of the park district, and to continue fostering good community and intergovernmental relations; and

WHEREAS, The Gurnee Park District has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the united States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report for an astounding 10 years in a row, a testament of the park district's unerring commitment to excellence; the park district's programs and staff have been recognized for excellence on numerous occasions by the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association; and

WHEREAS, In celebration of the Gurnee Park District's 40th anniversary, the park district will hold a special event on October 4, 2008 from 2 to 6 PM in Viking Park in Gurnee; and

WHEREAS, The Gurnee Park District strives to be the most effective, efficient, and responsive governmental agency that the Gurnee community will ever encounter, a feat that the park district has certainly been fulfilled for the citizens of Gurnee; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the citizens of Gurnee and the employees and administration of the Gurnee Park District on the occasion of the park district's 40th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Gurnee Park District Board of Commissioners as a symbol of our esteem and respect.