I always thought of park districts as protectors of local environment. The fact that they offer step aerobics and dog training classes, too, just seemed like a nifty bonus.

 

As you probably know, park districts focus on both. They manage parks as well as recreation buildings and programs, ultimately working to boost the quality of life for people in the community.

 

Being so many things to so many people can present problems, though. Many districts struggle to keep environmental practices at the forefront of decision making across all their departments.

 

Fortunately, Illinois seems to have a pretty good handle on this. The Wheaton Park District and Lisle Park District, for instance, have implemented "Go Green!" plans to cut down on energy use, create less waste and educate the public. And many others, including Peoria Park District, have

formed "green committees" to revisit their environmental policies.

 

I'd be remiss not to mention Chicago Park District. This year marks its 75th anniversary and a slew of activities aimed at increasing environmental awareness. The city stewards over 7,300 acres of open space, including 555 parks, 33 beaches and a number of gardens and nature preserves.

 

I know I'm missing a ton of park districts in the state that are greening their communities, too. If you know of one, please help create a dialogue about this and leave a comment below with their name and what they are doing -- along with their web address so other readers can check them out. These organizations operate for you and by you. So, brag a little, why don't ya?

 

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