For Immediate Release:
T-Shirt Request for Proposal
The River Forest Park District is soliciting requests for proposals (RFP) for the purchase of printed short and long sleeve t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, polo shirts, and basketball uniforms for the May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009 budget year. The quantities listed below are estimated, and the number of t-shirts may be higher or lower based on program participation. Quantities will be ordered throughout the year, based on program schedule. Equal brands will be considered. Samples will be requested from chosen vendor. The proposal shall include estimated delivery from time of order.
For Immediate Release:
Constitution Park Playground Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The River Forest Park District will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of our new Constitution Park playground on Friday, May 16th, at 6:00 PM. The ceremony will include music, children's face painting, and Park District staff serving free hotdogs, chips and soda. The new ADA accessible playground includes a 2-5 year old play area, a 5-12 year old play area, swings, and a sand pit. "We are pleased on how the new playground has turned out and how well it blends in with the neighborhood" stated Thomas Lamm, Park District President. "The construction fence just came down, and I regularly see up to 20 children using the playground." The new playground is located in Constitution Park at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Greenfield Street. Park hours are dawn to dusk.
Come join us for music and fun, and experience River Forest's newest playground.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for this event, please contact Karen Scherrer at 708-366-6660 xt. 105.
For Immediate Release:
Selected Residents Will Begin Receiving the River Forest Park District
Community Assessment Survey on April 24th
Approximately 2,000 River Forest households will begin receiving a Community Assessment Survey on April 24th. Residents who have been selected to participate in the survey should have received a phone call notice informing them that they have been selected as a survey participant, and that the Survey will be mailed within the next couple of days. Anyone not selected to participate in the survey process, but wishes to complete a Survey, may fill one out at The Depot, 401 Thatcher Avenue, Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Surveys will be available until May 16th.
The survey is being conducted by Leisure Vision, a professional survey firm hired by the Park District. The survey will give the residents of the River Forest Park District the opportunity to evaluate the Park District and assist the Park District in finding out what are the future recreation needs of the community.
Any questions and comments on the Community Assessment Survey should be directed to Michael Sletten, Executive Director, at 708-366-6660 xt 101.
For Immediate Release:
Board Approves Community Assessment Survey
At the Monday, April 7th Regular Board Meeting, the River Forest Park District's Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the Community Assessment Survey presented by Leisure Vision/ETC Institute. Leisure Vision, a professional survey firm, was hired by the Park District to conduct a survey of the residents of the River Forest Park District on evaluating the Park District and finding out what are the future recreation needs of the community. "We are pleased on how well the Survey has turned out", stated Thomas Lamm, President of the Park District Board of Commissioners. "The Board of Commissioners will be developing a Comprehensive Plan this year, and it is important that our residents are part of this process by taking part in our Community Assessment Survey. The Park District has never conducted such an extensive self evaluation, and we look forward to seeing our community's feedback."
The Survey will be conducted randomly, with approximately 2,000 River Forest households receiving a Survey in the mail. Residents who have been selected to participate in the Survey will receive a phone call notice approximately one week before the Survey is mailed. Surveys are expected to be delivered to River Forest households the week of April 21st. Anyone not selected to participate in the survey process, but wishes to complete a Survey, may fill out a Survey at The Depot, 401 Thatcher Avenue, Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Surveys will be available until May 16th.
In January 2008, the Board of Commissioners selected Leisure Vision out of 3 finalists to conduct the survey. To assist in developing the survey questions, focus group meetings were held in February to get feedback from River Forest residents. The focus groups were represented by seniors, civic leaders, business leaders, grade school parents, River Forest Community Center leaders and participants, youth athletics participants, and Park District program participants. The information received from these focus groups was the driving force behind the questions selected for the Survey.
Leisure Vision is expected to present the survey results to the Board of Commissioners and River Forest residents this June. Once Leisure Vision has presented the results, the information will be posted on the River Forest Park District website at www.rfparks.com. Any questions and comments on the Community Assessment Survey should be directed to Michael Sletten, Executive Director, at 708-366-6660 xt. 101.
03/11/08
For Immediate Release
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny/ Easter Egg Hunt
River Forest, IL -- Join the River Forest Park District on March 22nd, for two (2) Easter Special Events.
Children ages 2-11 and their parents are invited to a pancakes and sausage breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Depot from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The Easter Bunny will be available for pictures and to personally meet your child. “We are thrilled that the Easter Bunny agreed to host a breakfast before the egg hunt”, said Karen Scherrer, Recreation Supervisor. “The breakfast will allow children the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the Easter Bunny, without the commotion that usually occurs at the egg hunt.” Registration deadline for the breakfast is March 20th.
After the breakfast, the Park District will host its Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Keystone West Park, beginning promptly at 10:00 AM. Children ages 2-11 will be divided up into three (3) age groups, and hunt for hundreds of candy and toy eggs. Children should also be on the look-out for special hidden eggs that are redeemable for prize baskets. This special event only lasts 5 minutes, so please do not be late. No registration is required for this event.
Please visit the River Forest Park District website at www.rfparks.com or call 708-366-6660 for more information.
03/18/08
For Immediate Release
River Forest Park District Batting Cage Open Hours Information
River Forest, IL -- The Keystone Park batting cages are open for “live pitching” to River Forest residents beginning March 17th, 9:00 am until 9:00 pm daily.
The batting cage pitching machines will be available for River Forest residents beginning March 31st, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm weekdays, and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays. When pitching machines are in operation, a green flag will be displayed at the site. Reservations for one-hour pitching machine timeslots are being taken at The Depot, 401 Thatcher Avenue, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, weekdays. Sorry, no phone or email requests will be accepted. After March 31st, reservations will be taken at the batting cages, during normal batting cage operation hours.
Batting helmets are required inside the batting cages. The Park District does not provide batting practice equipment. For more information, please call Mike Kenny 708-366-6660 x103 or mkenny@rfparks.com.
03/11/08
For Immediate Release
River Forest Park District’s 2008 Summer Camp Programs
River Forest, IL -- Registration for the River Forest Park District’s 2008 Summer Camp Programs will open on April 7th. The Summer Camp brochure will be available on-line and will be distributed to the schools the week of March 31st. New this year, “our camps will be offered in one week increments, giving greater flexibility to create a schedule that will fit a family’s needs”, said Michael Sletten, Executive Director. “To mix things up, our 6-11 year old participants will be able to alternate between the Rookie/All Star and Kidz Camps, if they wish”.
The Park District will be offering four (4) 3-hour morning camp programs from 9:00 am to noon, weekdays, at Keystone Park and Lincoln School. Tot Camp (3-5 year old) at Lincoln School, will offer a variety of activities including arts, crafts, stories, games, sports, yoga, and mini hikes. Rookie (6-8 year old) and All Star (9-11 year old) Sports Camps at Keystone East are for boys and girls who love sports, including baseball, soccer, flag football, basketball, floor hockey, and much more. A new camp offering, Kidz Camp (6-11 year old) at the Depot, will offer a variety of activities, including arts, crafts, sports, yoga, theme days, water days, cookouts, and much more.
To extend your child’s camp experience, Before Care will be offered from 7:30 am to 9:00 am with low key activities and socializing with friends.
In addition to the morning camp programs, the Park District will be offering a number of specialty sports, arts, and fun camps during the summer afternoons. Afternoon camp offerings will include the Chicago White Sox Baseball Camps, the Chicago Bulls Basketball Camp, volleyball camp, flag football camp, Splashin’ Summer Fun Camp, digital movie making camp, robot programming camp, and Young Rembrandts Art Camp.
For more information, please visit the River Forest Park District website at www.rfparks.com or call us at 708-366-6660.