Year in Review 2020 - Carol Stream Park District

YEAR IN REVIEW 2020

Welcoming our Residents Back to the Park District!

Dear Carol Stream Park District Residents!

What can I say about 2020? It was one of those years that you remember where you were when the country officially went on lockdown. Similar to remembering where you were on 9/11, or when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart; or if you’re older, where you were when President John F. Kennedy was shot.

When the park district went on stay-at-home orders, it was a Saturday. I was at home, watching news reports, talking with other park district executive directors and park representatives from the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the National Recreation and Parks Association, in addition to my leadership team at the Park District. What are we supposed to do? We must abide by the rules that were still being written because COVID-19 was so mysterious and people were dying.

We, I, needed to make sure our community, the families, and our employees would remain safe from contracting this horrible virus. The shock started to settle in. We are closing down. We are closing our facilities and we don’t know for how long. We are closing playgrounds! Seriously? And we thought it was only going to last for two weeks. If I could sum up 2020 in one word, it would be disbelief.

Once disbelief started to subside and reality kicked in, park district staff was compelled to be creative quickly. Our goal was to keep our park district community busy and engaged as always but with socially distant services as a distraction to the pressures and tensions of your home/work life. I wanted to make sure that we, the Park District, was there for our Community! Staff immediately started virtual programming. Boys baseball and girls softball clinics were offered. We worked with our vendors to bring kids art, drawing, magic, music and science classes; and still today, the Park District continues to offer virtual classes for many programs in 2021, a trend we see as being around for some time.

And your Park District staff pushed on . . . Staff members took turns creating an activity of the day on Facebook. Fitness staff created a series of workout videos, and a webpage of “Activities while you stay at home and social distance” was created. The page included home workouts, indoor and outdoor ideas for fun, and social media games. As Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines shifted throughout the year, staff pivoted and offered an array of outdoor, virtual, private, small group and in-person programs to keep the community active. Safety was always the top priority, but engagement of our residents and guests was a close second.

Parks remained open and never before have I seen so many people using our parks and trails.

People were encouraged to take a walk, ride a bike and get outside . . . that’s right, Outside! Open air spaces are known to maintain and even increase mental and physical health. With the nice weather and with social distancing guidelines in place, we were able to offer some outdoor recreational events that brought family and friends safely together. Although a little later than usual, we opened Coyote Crossing Mini Golf and had a great and extended season. Events hosted there were Teenie Weenie Pumpkins and Munchkins, Haunted Halloween and Grinchmas. The Father’s Day Fishing derby continued its success as it became a virtual event that spanned the weekend with fishing at any Carol Stream pond. Red Hawk Park was home to our first Halloween trail walk.

Another word to describe 2020 – Adapt. We embraced it!

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, THE PARK DISTRICT, WAS THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY!

Never before were hygiene habits such as washing your hands so pounded into our heads. We teach our kids to wash their hands and cough into their elbows. The year 2020 taught the world.

When the lockdown began, our maintenance staff donned their face coverings and rubber gloves and cleaned and fully sanitized our facilities. Misting machines were purchased to do a comprehensive job. Upon the opening of services, we set up several sanitization stations within each facility for customers and staff. To be able to open up our fitness center in July was a triumphant feeling for members and staff. With members following our guidelines and with staff continually cleaning and sanitizing, we can safely say we have not been notified of any cases of the virus stemming from our facility.

All other staff used sanitation station supplies to clean common touch points at their workstations and in their offices, such as phones, keyboards, door handles; you name it, we cleaned and sanitized it. Staff was required to do this on a daily basis, sometimes two or three times a day. Staff sanitized and continue to sanitize anything they touch, such as the postage or copy machines, timeclocks, etc. This is how we have been protecting ourselves and others.

So another word to come out of 2020 – Sanitize!

While social distancing and wearing face coverings became the norm in 2020, we saw your smiles!

It’s amazing you can still tell when someone is smiling from their eyes. Opening more programs and services as the year crept along grew our excitement to see you and reminded us of how much we love our jobs here at the Park District and missed you in our facilities. We hope that our parks and recreation programs helped to make your 2020 brighter. We're here for the community and always want to be your go-to!

I want to say that 2020 is the year that never was. But it was. One that through all of my years in Parks and Recreation I thought I’d never experience. And it was a year that started out okay and turned upside down, stopped us in our tracks, changed everything that we do as a park district, as a community, as a nation. As humans it is in our nature to persevere, and to do so establishes the silver lining of 2020. People slowed down, spent more time with their families, learned to be more patient, adjusted their offices to home, entered the world of virtual meetings and programming, discovered new hobbies, maybe gardened or cooked more, read more books or binge-watched television series, and yes . . . enjoyed the outdoors. The year was about family, health, and being grateful for what you have. My last word to describe 2020 – Thankful.

I can’t thank you enough – the Carol Stream community, our residents, customers and staff – for the devotion and unwavering support you gave to your Park District in 2020. We said we are all in this together, and I wholeheartedly felt it. Looking forward to 2021, we will continue to be here for you, creating new programs and continuing with the programs and services you know and love.

And we look forward to doing so!

Remember, stay well, stay safe, socially distant and stay smart!

Sincerely,

Jim Reuter Executive Director

WE HOPE THAT OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS HELPED TO MAKE YOUR 2020 BRIGHTER.

EMBRACING THE BENEFITS OF THE OUTDOORS, PARKS, TRAILS, GREEN SPACE Health experts have said, over and

The Carol Stream Park District

Residents took advantage of

over again, that being outdoors

maintains 456 acres of parks and

the open space, parks, paths and

can improve your health and

open space for the outdoor

trails, in droves. Whether biking,

well-being. The pandemic of 2020,

enjoyment and health of our

walking, jogging, rollerblading,

although discouraging in the reality

community. The District has 40

fishing, picnicking – people were

of it, enticed people out of their

parks and up to 9.3 miles of trails

taking advantage of the fresh air in

homes to enjoy the outdoors more

that lead to Village trails that then

Carol Stream. We as Americans are

than ever before. The National

lead to Forest Preserve trails, in

so wound up in our daily lives that

Recreation and Park Association

addition to county trails such as

if you look for the positives of

(NRPA) sites in a blog that “access

the Great Western Trail and

2020, peace and calmness may have

to parks and the outdoors is crucial

the Prairie Path. Overall, Carol

been found by many just by being

for mental health in our

Stream has over 23 miles of bike

with family and being outdoors.

communities.” Being outdoors

and pedestrian paths and trails that

Families found other ways to be

and enjoying nature has a positive

connect with our parks, area trails

busy at home, or to just relax and

effect on one’s overall well-being.

and other points of interest.

actually enjoy each other’s

What you see, hear, and experience

company. The pandemic seemed

outside, breathing in the fresh air,

to slow down time for many,

can improve your mood in

allowing more time for people to

a moment.

realize what is really important in their lives.

VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAZA ANONYMOUS DONATION ADDS MORE BEAUTY TO VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAZA A generous donor and Veteran who frequents

The new sitting bench is on the west lawn and is

the Veterans Memorial Plaza, at 960 North

adorned with a plate that quotes an unknown

Gary Avenue in Carol Stream, thought some

author: “Our flag does not fly because the wind

shade would be nice for visitors, especially

blows it; it flies with the last breath of every

during the hot summer months. The kind-

soldier who died defending it.” The Japanese Lilac

hearted Veteran donated two Japanese Lilac

trees, on both the east and west lawns, are mid-

trees, a 6-foot park bench with a back for

size trees and have a moderate growth rate.

sitting and a memorial stone in fond

Clusters of white flowers bloom in the early

remembrance of someone special to the

summer. The memorial stone underneath the east

Veteran. Carol Stream Park District Parks

tree is dedicated to a loved one and includes in

Department staff were excited to complete

the engraving, “For Her Benevolence and

the installation of the donation just in time for

Generosity, To Enable it to Continue.”

Veterans Day 2020.

MASTER BOARD MEMBERS Commissioners Brian Sokolowski and Jacqueline Jeffrey earned their status as Master Board Members in February 2020. The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) hosts a board member development program that recognizes local board members who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty through committee involvement, attendance at educational opportunities, and frequent presence and involvement in the community they serve.

Commissioner Sokolowski has served on the Carol Stream Park District Board since 2001. Commissioner Jeffrey has served on the Board since 2011. The Park District Board Commissioners are elected officials who set the policies that guide the Park District. They receive no compensation for their time.

THE CAROL STREAM PARKS FOUNDATION PRESENTED THE CAROL STREAM PARK DISTRICT’S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WITH A CHECK FOR $5,000 BENEFITTING THE CAROL STREAM PARK DISTRICT’S YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AT THE FEBRUARY 2, 2020 BOARD MEETING. THESE FUNDS WERE RAISED IN 2019 THROUGH VARIOUS FUNDRAISING EVENTS, SUCH AS THE ANNUAL DUCK RACE, BIKE CLUB MEMBERSHIPS, AND GENEROUS DONATIONS TO THE FOUNDATION. Holding check from left to right are Foundation members Mike Ashby (Foundation Board Member), Pam Falco (Staff Liaison), Craig Cronquist (Foundation Board Member), Dave Creighton (Foundation President), Clem Malinowski (Foundation Board Member), Donna Freeman (Foundation Board Member), Carol Floren (Foundation Board Member) and Cindy Carlson (past Foundation Board Member).

CLEANING, SANITIZING With our facilities reopening last summer to customers, members and staff, we created cleaning and sanitization plans that strictly follow the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

COVID CLEANING/SANITIZATION PROTOCOLS

Facilities

Parks

Detailed cleaning and sanitization procedures and protocols were developed for each facility.

Employees drive alone most times unless not possible for their particular duty for the day. If driving together, masks are required.

Facilities receive daily sanitization with an electrostatic misting machine or equivalent.

Throughout the day frequent cleaning and sanitization is done for all high-touch areas such as railings, door knobs, bathroom fixtures, and fitness equipment.

Bathrooms and locker rooms are repeatedly cleaned and sanitized throughout the day.

Vehicles get sanitized at the end of every work day.

As bathroom facilities were opened through the Park system, they received a top-to-bottom cleaning and sanitization. The Park washrooms were also cleaned and sanitized daily.

Internal Safety Efforts Sanitization using products from the Center for Disease Control's list of approved chemicals is used for all park district facilities, vehicles and equipment.

All park district staff are required to perform a self-health assessment prior to reporting to work each day.

Social distancing protocols were implemented throughout all park district recreation and maintenance facilities.

Occupancy limits were set to meet Illinois Department of Public Health Guidelines, and face coverings were required.

For Staff and Visitors Hand sanitizer dispensers were placed throughout our facilities.

All staff were required to sanitize their offices, or work areas daily. They also had daily checklists for cleaning high-touch surfaces throughout the staff area.

CDC signage was posted (and regularly updated) in all public areas reminding staff and visitors to wear a face covering, keep 6 feet apart, and wash your hands.

Floor stickers 6 feet apart indicating where patron may wait; floor arrows indicating direction of flow of traffic.

All items listed above are over and above the daily cleaning/sanitizing protocols which have been in place prior to the pandemic.

SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES The Carol Stream Park District implemented

After a couple of months, when government

social distancing measures in all recreation

mandates relaxed, we no longer required the

facilities, and in addition to outdoor sports

sign-up system, and to play mini golf was first-

fields, Coyote Crossing Mini Golf, and at

come, first-served. Coyote Crossing Mini Golf

special events. Following mandated

was a popular location in 2020 since it was one

government agency guidelines, we were able to

of the few activities allowed. Further, the Park

keep customers, visitors, employees and

District extended the mini golf season through

contractors safe. In addition, face coverings

the end of October, as weather permitted, and

were required at all times.

a few “walk-through”, socially distanced events were held there.

We welcomed spectators to McCaslin Park and stationed them around the foul lines and

In July members of Fountain View Fitness were

homerun fences. Six-feet distance markers

back working out, taking group fitness classes,

were placed at the restrooms and concessions

walking the indoor track, although face

for lines. Distance markers were also placed in

coverings are still required at all times.

the dugouts so all players could socially

Members using the lap pool or therapy pool

distance their equipment and themselves. Face

need to wear face coverings until they are

coverings were required anytime inside the

about to enter the water. Aqua class

hub of McCaslin Park.

participants are distanced six or more feet apart while exercising.

Eager to open Coyote Crossing Mini Golf, since it was considered a lower risk activity, and in

Staff in all Park District facilities wear face

order to keep players socially distanced, we

coverings in all common areas and when social

started with a sign-up system that timed

distancing six feet is not possible. Most

players start times with enough time between

meetings still take place over a virtual

the next round of players in order to keep the

platform, whether or not staff is in same

small groups socially distanced. Staff

facility. Staff are required to wear face

disinfected clubs and balls, and guidelines to

coverings when walking to or from their cars

patrons were posted at the facility and on the

to our facilities. Following all Park District

mini golf webpage.

COVID protocols have kept our employees and visitors safe.

PROGRAM GUIDE - TRANSITION FROM PRINT TO DIGITAL Spring and summer programs were canceled in 2020. The spring program guide for April and May that had just been released was null and void by April 1. The Park District was about to print summer guide; but without knowing the length of stay-at-home orders and other mitigations due to the pandemic, and without knowing when regular activities could resume again, we did not send the guide to print. This was a challenging but necessary decision; the printed guide is the District's most popular marketing piece as it is distributed quarterly to 18,000 Carol Stream households.

The Park District Recreation team still worked diligently and creatively to bring activities and programs to Carol Stream adults and youth over the 2020 summer. With state guidelines changing almost weekly, we had to find a way to be at the forefront advertising our programs to our customers and yet maintain much flexibility to accommodate the flow of changing COVID mitigations.

The Marketing Team created a digital guide in July. First advertised on a postcard in partnership with the Carol Stream Public Library, and also advertised in emails, social media and on the csparks.org website, the digital guide has become a bi-monthly “live” communications tool, covering two to three months of current activities and programs. As programs expire or are filled up, they are removed from the digital guide, which keeps it always up to date. New programs and new program sessions are added weekly, as they are continually being developed by Recreation staff. The digital guide serves as a key component to advertising in 2020 – flexibility.

The digital guide has its own URL – csparksguide.org – for easy remembrance and linking. It is housed within a software program the Park District already uses for its electronic newsletters and emails, so no additional costs have been incurred transitioning to a digital guide. In fact, the guide saves the Park District $7-8K in print costs and $3K in postage per season. Further, the digital guide is mobile friendly and offers customers direct links to the specific programs in our registration system.

In a year that drastically increased online presence and shopping, the digital guide has quickly found its place amongst the customers of our Carol Stream community. Viewers may browse the digital guide at any time and from wherever they may be. If a customer or resident subscribes to the digital guide, regular notifications of updates are sent to given email.

The Carol Stream Park District is pleased to offer our community a digital guide as the pathway into all our recreational activities – Animals, Art, Birthday Parties, Camps, Dance, Educational, Fitness, Forever Young, Gymnastics, Music, Performing Arts, Preschool, School Year Care, Special Events, Sports, and Swimming.

ONLINE REGISTRATION Online registration increased significantly in

Our registration team rolled out a new

2020. Online registration was 59% and in-

customer user "interface" that improves a

person registration was 41%. Comparatively, in

user's registration experience by simplifying

2019, just 45% of registration was online and

the process. Searching for programs, reading

55% was in-person. To make registration more

descriptions, seeing how many spaces are

convenient, fitness memberships, personal

available, and viewing activity dates and fee

training packages, lap swim memberships, and

details is easier than before. In addition, the

ActivKids before & after care, remote learning,

new registration interface is visually friendly

and hybrid learning childcare began offering

whether using from a computer, tablet or

online registration.

phone.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS ACTIVITY OF THE DAY When in-person programs were restricted, we were still committed to keeping families engaged at home. An Activity of the Day was offered daily on Facebook from March 27 through May 30. Some activity posts reached over 1,000 views!

ACTIVKIDS In the winter session, Before & After Care served 312 children between six CCSD93 elementary schools. Special ActivTime events included a juggler and a visit from the Bartlett Nature Center. In the fall, we changed gears in order to develop childcare to support students during the school day. Full-day Remote Learning and partial-day Hybrid Learning options were offered, with 44 participants in grades K-8.

Days Off Club took place on 12 days that school was not in session.

Highlights included a Bricks4Kids Lego building event, a field trip to Painted Penguin, and virtual Shedd Aquarium and Brookfield Zoo tours.

There were 352 total registrations, with an average of 18 kids each day.

AQUATICS The Dolphins Swim Team competed until March with 115 swimmers.

The Dolphins remained undefeated in the Northern Illinois Winter Swim Conference. We offered 25 swim team conditioning classes, which saw roughly 130 participants. These classes primarily focused on building the skills needed to participate in competitive swimming.

We offered 70 private swim classes, and 121 students registered. We offered 138 group swim classes, and 329 students participated. Lap swim memberships totaled 215 members.

AWESOME ADVENTURE CAMP Awesome Adventure Camp served 77 different children over ten weeks, with an average of 46 kids each day. Campers were divided into pods of 10 children who stayed together for all activities throughout the week. We enjoyed frequent park visits, water play days, and lots of time outside. Several virtual special events were held, including the Traveling World of Reptiles, a BMX Biker, and DuPage County Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom pizza-making program.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS CONCESSION OPERATIONS Concession operations at McCaslin Park and Fountain View Recreation Center generated over $95,000 in revenue. New in 2020, funnel cake fries and Mini Melts were offered. Popular items at McCaslin included popcorn with 802 boxes sold, Mini Melts with 1,159 sold, and Gatorade with 1,166 sold.

COYOTE CROSSING MINI GOLF About 11,000 rounds were played in 2020 at Coyote Crossing Mini Golf. The facility generated over $58,000 in revenue. Coyote Crossing hosted multiple special events including Cosmic Golf Night, 80’s Theme Night, Patriot Day, Egg-Tober, Adult Only Haunted Golf, and Grinchmas. For the first time at Coyote Crossing, alcohol sales were offered on select weekend evenings. Also new was Mini Melt ice cream and a total of 694 Mini Melts were sold!

In 2020, the mini golf course became a fun family destination, offering Family Fun Fridays where a family of four could golf at a discounted rate.

Yard games were placed on the grassy area east of the shelter so families could stay after their golf game and enjoy refreshments and a game of bags or ladder toss.

DANCE Our dance recital program had 22 classes with 161 dancers. Instead of the traditional spring recital, each class had an individual end-of-season performance with a small audience. Forté Dance Company had 42 registrants in the 2019-2020 season and 31 in the 2020-2021 season between Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Junior Hip Hop, Junior Jazz, and Petite Jazz. There were also 240 registrants in a variety of seasonal dance classes, from Princess Dance Party, Young Ballerinas, Poms, and Irish Dance to adult Swing, Salsa, and Ballroom Dance. As restrictions changed throughout the year, in-person, virtual, and outdoor classes were held.

GYMNASTICS Instructional gymnastics classes saw 482 participants throughout the year. When in-person programs were not possible, virtual and outdoor classes were held. The maximum enrollment for the Springers Gymnastics Team was 42 members. While the meet season was cut short, the Springers earned a 1st place at the State Tumbling Meet and had five individual state champs!

RECREATION DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS FITNESS In a year filled with many challenges, the team at Fountain View Recreation Center was able to offer a diligently sanitized, socially distant, safe place for the community to exercise. Fountain View Fitness had nearly 90,000 visits from members in the shortened operating year. Fountain View Fitness ended the year with 1,990 all-inclusive members, 377 corporate members, and 277 walking track members. Total visits to the fitness center in 2020 totaled 105,496.

During 2020, Fountain View Fitness pivoted its operations and began holding outdoor personal training sessions, and 550 total training sessions were sold. Also new in 2020, 17 virtual fitness classes were offered with over 400 participants. These classes were offered to Fountain View Fitness members and nonmembers. Over 50 in-person group fitness classes were offered, featuring options seven days a week, with 17,309 total class visits.

The 500-Mile Challenge was the most popular member challenge with 260 participants registered to walk, run or jog 500 miles by the end of the year; and 23 people completed their 500 miles! Other member challenges included the February heart challenge, the October group fitness challenge, the November Burn the Turkey challenge and the December 12 Days of Fitmas challenge. Over 700 members participated in these challenges.

FOREVER YOUNG Our seniors participated in 30 Forever Young programs throughout the year with a total of 499 registrations. This includes 20 Forever Young trips that were held in the winter, before COVID restrictions were in place, with an average of 20 participants per trip. Also, 10 special events/activities were held. Participants celebrated Valentine’s Day, Octoberfest, and Halloween together at luncheons held at Fountain View Recreation Center. Socially distant events included two Parking Lot Bingo events with 26 people attending. In addition, 26 participants purchased recreation boxes which offered an opportunity to take home fun activities to enjoy in their own homes.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS PARKS FOUNDATION The Carol Stream Parks Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to public parks and recreation programs of the Carol Stream Park District. The Foundation is managed by a volunteer board of directors who live or work locally. This year was kicked off with a generous donation of $5,000 toward our scholarship fund which offers financial assistance to qualifying program participants.

The Foundation‘s annual Duck Race was held at Coyote Crossing Mini Golf this year and was streamed via Facebook Live due to social distancing. The event raised $2,330 in duck race entries. The Bike Club raised $1,185 for the Parks Foundation. Between fundraisers and generous donations, the Foundation raised over $11,700, supporting the Carol Stream Park District scholarship program and park improvements that benefit the Carol Stream community.

PRESCHOOL Winter Preschool had 101 children attending, between nine classes for kids 2½-5 years old. We celebrated the end of the school year at Coyote Crossing and held a drive-up graduation at Hampe Park. Summer preschool camps ran both virtually and outdoors, with 17 total registrants. In the fall, three inperson classes and three virtual classes were held, with a total of 61 students.

Throughout the year, preschoolers enjoyed park visits and indoor field days at Simkus Recreation Center.

RENTALS & BIRTHDAY PARTIES The multi-purpose rooms at Fountain View and Simkus Recreation Center hosted 107 parties, receptions, showers, ceremonies and meetings in 2020. Revenue for the year totaled $30,110.

Twenty children celebrated their birthday at Fountain View or Simkus Recreation Center. We offer a variety of theme and action parties and Pirate Treasure Hunt and Unicorn parties were most popular in 2020.

SPECIAL EVENTS Over a dozen various community and special events were held, servicing over 1,400 participants. Many of the events such as the Daddy Daughter Dance have become annual traditions for families in the community. Events in 2020 were revamped to ensure socially distanced events. New events this year included the Virtual Father’s Day Fishing Derby, Trick-or-Treat Trail, Egg-tober, and Grinchmas.

Take-home activity boxes were created for children 5 and under to keep children active at home.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS SPECIAL INTEREST, FAMILY AND NATURE Special Interest offered several successful virtual programs, including music lessons, magic classes, and STEAM classes. In-person classes that ran were Horsemanship for Kids, People Training Dogs, Kid Rock, and Babysitting Basics. Special Interest programming generated over $6,000 in revenue. Total enrollment was 98 participants.

SPONSORSHIPS & DONATIONS We are fortunate to have local businesses who give back to the community. Generous donations and sponsorships keep our programs affordable. In 2020, the District received over $30,000 in sponsorships.

SPORTS McCaslin Park and Armstrong Park hosted 12 youth baseball and softball tournaments despite only being able to take place from June through August. The events were hosted by Seminole Sports and JP Sports.

Over 1,400 kids participated in baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and dodgeball leagues. Another 2,000 adults participated in softball, basketball, flag football, volleyball, dodgeball, floor hockey, and cup-in-hand kickball leagues. Sports were affected greatly by the pandemic, which resulted in a different way to run things such as 3v3 leagues, one-on-one sports, and virtual programming. We also offered E-sports gaming tournaments which brought in 45 kids over three tournaments.

THEATRE Our winter theatre production of Frozen Jr. had 99 young thespians.

One cast was able to perform on stage at Glenbard North High School before restrictions limiting large groups were in place. The theatre group sold 880 tickets for opening weekend. Wicked Theatre Camp was held in the summer and fall workshops featured Moana, Storybook Theatre, Newsies, and Hamilton, with 37 total participants.

PARKS DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS PARKS During 2020, the Parks Department worked to keep our parks maintained and clean. Parks and fields were mowed, seeded, and aerated as usual.

Playground equipment was inspected and repairs made where necessary. With an increased number of people getting outdoors and walking the parks trails during the COVID lockdown orders, much more garbage was generated; so Parks increased trash removal by replacing can liners more often and by picking up drifting trash within the parks.

CONTROLLED BURNS Parks conducted controlled burns at the Bark Park, and at Jan Smith and Slepicka parks. The benefits of a controlled burn are to maintain the health of an existing natural area containing native plants. The fire helps manage weeds and other growth and thus helps to reduce the risk of wildfires. It also helps restore nutrients, which lead to more desirable plant growth in the future.

FUN The Parks Department in-house carpenter built Stick Libraries for dogs at the Bark Park! Members can find one in both the large and small dog areas.

PARKS PARKS ANALYSIS The Park District, through the years, has had multiple discussions at both the staff and Board level in regards to parks and playgrounds. Those conversations encompassed everything from how to determine what playground should be replaced first, what amenities should we add or delete from each playground and should we remove the traditional playground and replace with a new feature altogether.

In the summer of 2020, a detailed Parks Analysis was created which established a “road map” for future improvements and renovations at every park site within the District with a long-range strategy. The analysis outlines each park based on current priorities and projected budget allocation and is intended to be used as a guide to implement capital improvements over the next five to ten years.

The Parks Analysis planning process includes three phases – Inventory and Analysis, Park Recommendations, and Action Plan. The Parks Analysis Team visited, evaluated and photographed each park in order to make recommendations. The recommendations for each park take into consideration the service areas for each park, the amenities, and overall age and condition of the facilities.

As with all plans, this is a suggested road map.

Funding, maintenance schedules and real life events such as the COVID-19 pandemic can alter this plan; however, we have developed a rock solid plan for the future. Having the Parks Analysis plan can also assist to secure grant funding as it becomes available. Lastly, if a resident asks, “when will the playground near our house be replaced?,” we will be able to deliver a solid answer.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS GFOA AWARD The Park District received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report. The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure’ to clearly communicate its financial story. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

CARES ACT Coronavirus Relief Fund Grant reimbursed $43K of COVID-19 related expenses for sanitization, cleaning, protective barriers, signage, and equipment to create safe facilities and programs for the residents of Carol Stream.

BOND RATING UPGRADE TO A1 Moody’s Investor Services upgraded the Carol Stream Park District’s Bond rating to A1 from A2. As part of the District’s refinancing of outstanding debt for savings, it underwent a bond rating by Moody’s Investor Services. Like a ‘credit score’, the bond rating is an independent review of the District’s financial position, and impacts the interest rate attached to refinanced bonds. Moody’s upgrade reflects the District’s strong financial performance over the past few years resulting in sound fund balance and liquidity.

REFINANCING FOR SAVINGS OF $3.7 SAVINGS The District successfully refunded and refinanced outstanding bonds last August 12. The preliminary estimate of the Present Value Savings was $1.8M; the combination of an upgrade to the District’s bond rating, and favorable changes to the market produced a significantly greater actual savings of $3.7M. Thanks go to the Park Board of Commissioners for supporting our request to move forward with the refinancing and bring these savings to the residents

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS