Dear Friends of the Park District,

Late summer is usually a very busy time for us here at the Chicago Heights Park District.While our kids summer camp has ended and our baseball and softball program are winding down, the maintenance staff is trying to keep up with play equipment repairs and trying to stay one step ahead of the weather, as they clean and trim up the parks and play areas. Our office staff starts to prepare the fall and winter schedules so the program book can be printed. Our park commissioners interact with the staff and each other, to bring new ideas to our park district participants. There are certainly no “dog days of summer” here at the park district.

Before we go on to this fall and winter’s events, I would just like to recap some of our Chicago Heights Park District summer highlights. The busiest day had to be in July when we held our annual Parkfest. This year was a little different because we combined several events into one day, so more families could take advantage and enjoy some of our most popular programs. We started out with the Bike Rodeo, and then we had a petting zoo, inflatable funhouse, and even camel rides for the kids and their parents. The IAPD Statewide Kite Fly, which was postponed from earlier in the year due to bad weather, was held next. We gave out almost one hundred kites to kids of all ages, and many families assembled, and then launched these kites into the mighty winds, which had picked up in the afternoon. The kite fly was a great success! The Movie-in-the-Park was cancelled the night before, due to lightning strikes near Commissioner’s Park. The inflatable screen could not be erected, so the event was moved to Saturday night. It was lucky for us the winds died down, and we all viewed the movie safely under the stars.

Other notable events were our Back to School Giveaways at the recreation center, and at King, Smith and Jirtle Parks. The Music Festival at Sesto Park was a great day of families coming together to eat, play and honor God through song. Our Basketball Camp at Smith Park brought back memories of when that park was the hotspot of the south suburban area for young talent to shoot hoops.

This program book features some great trips, events and classes for you and your children to enjoy. I would like to welcome our new dance instructor Terri Lane to the Park District. Terry has high hopes to rebuild our dance program; she also has an award-winning pedigree, and I’m sure she will lead the program to some great new levels of success.
Also, I would like to remind you of one of our most popular events, the annual Festival of Lights motor coach bus trip to Peoria. If you haven’t been on this scenic Christmas ride, you have missed out on a truly spectacular holiday outing. Sign up quickly, it’s sold out every year!

I hope each of you, and your families, enjoy a wonderful holiday season, and a safe and healthy New Year!

Sincerely,

President
Chicago Heights Park District