Waukegan SportsPark, officials receive IPRA awards

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Updated: March 9, 2012 8:13AM

The Waukegan Park District has received top honors from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association in four categories.

Greg Petry, park district executive director, received the Robert Artz Distinguished Service Award.

According to IPRA, the award recipient’s efforts must have had a lasting value and must have created an awareness of the importance of parks and recreation among his/her colleagues and the community in which the person works.

“Because of his leadership, character, and enthusiasm, his park district has flourished, winning state and national awards for facilities, programs and services,” said Bill Clevenger of the Decatur Park District.

Wayne Motley received the Mike Cassidy Community Service Award recognizing his contributions during 17 years as a Waukegan Park District commissioner.

The annual award is presented to a commissioner whose volunteer service to his or her community emulates efforts to improve the quality of life for those in his community.

The Waukegan SportsPark received the IPRA Outstanding Facility and Park Award which honors outstanding and unique achievements in the design and developments of parks and recreation facilities.

The SportsPark has also been recognized with the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Best Management Practices/Development Project of the Year Award.

Roosevelt Park received the Illinois Parks and Recreation Outstanding Conservation Program for its management and restoration of the Waukegan River and wetlands and the stabilization of its banks. This top award recognizes outstanding and innovative achievement in environmental conservation projects or programs. Roosevelt’s rain garden, its permeable paved parking lot, educational signage, trails, elevated boardwalk through the wetlands, and gathering spaces as well as volunteer activities contributed to the award.

“This has been exceptional year for the Waukegan Park District,” said Patricia Foley, park board president, noting other top awards won earlier this year, the Cultural Arts Division received the Arts in the Park from the Illinois Association of Park Districts and Arts Alliance Illinoi,s and Susie Schreiber received the Barb King Award for Environmental Stewardship from the National Recreation and Park Association.