Great Lakes region. .

The Lafayette (Ind.) Parks and Recreation Department decided that staff should take the lead and set an example for the planned Hearts N' Parks programs. At the annual Staff Team Day in March, a six-month park staff program was initiated. After a hearty and healthy lunch, the staff took the Hearts N' Parks pre-questionnaire and then played CATCH games, such as Wylie and the Hound Dogs and the Ultimate Flying Disc. Staff also set one goal each on how to be more active and engage in heart-healthy behaviors. These goals were recorded and placed in an envelope, and will be opened at the end of the program to see whether the staff goals were met. Throughout the summer, Hearts N' Parks events are held, including water walking, Hike With Your Hound, or walking on park trails. In addition, educational materials and opportunities for blood pressure and diabetes screening were available for the staff.

Parks and recreation camps are benefiting from NRPA's partnership with the Women's National Basketball Association. In June, the Detroit Shock had a special camp game to support summer recreation camps in the Detroit area. In July, the Cleveland Rockers, Minnesota Lynx and Detroit Shock played for summer campers. For more information on NRPA and the WNBA partnership and how you can get involved, contact [e-mail].

Des Peres, Mo., recreation professionals are helping to make their community healthier. They developed a four-week Healthy Choices program for families. For the first 30 minutes of the class, a registered dietician from the St. Louis County Health Department presented information on healthy eating choices, portion sizes, fat content and label reading. In the second half, the kids got active doing things like aerobics, a nature hike or obstacle course, while their parents stayed in the classroom for heart-healthy shopping tips.

The League of American Bicyclists has designated the first recipients of its Bicycle-Friendly Community awards. Fourteen communities around the U.S. have been recognized. Schaumburg, Ill., received a bronze level award, which was the highest recognition for a city in the Great Lakes region. A number of communities received honorable mention distinctions, including Hennepin County, and Oakdale, Minn. For more information, go to www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/.

Functioning as a team to enhance the quality of life for residents, the Winnetka Park District and the Village of Winnetka have been working together to improve the area's drainage problems. "This was a no-brainer for us to get involved with this project," states Liza McElroy, director of parks and recreation, Winnetka Park District. "The severity of the flooding was affecting the entire Skokie Playfields, as well as the adjacent homes, and needed to be corrected. We are always looking for ways to help our neighbors and other governmental agencies." Updating an old sewer and pump system and improving the drainage lines will relieve water flooding for residential neighborhoods, homes, the golf course, athletic field and parking areas. "The support from the Winnetka Park District and Winnetka residents has been terrific," stated Steve Saunders, director of public works. "The system wasn't working properly, and desperately needed to be updated. This is a win-win for everyone involved." The overall cost of the project is estimated at $2 million. The Winnetka Park District's cost for work on its golf course was estimated at $100,000, but came in under budget at a cost of $44,000. This cost is to be split between the Winnetka Park District and the Village of Winnetka.

Liza McElroy, director of parks and recreation, Winnetka Park District, has been elected as the new chair of the board for the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, an intergovernmental cooperative that works to improve the quality of life for people who have disabilities through recreational programs, support for inclusion and by providing partner agencies with information about making recreation facilities and sites accessible. "I am thrilled to have this honor," says McElroy. "The board not only sets policy, but works to assist the individual communities with their needs of providing recreation for people with disabilities." The Board of Directors is made up of one person from each of the 12 partner governing boards. "It is important that everyone have the opportunity to enjoy our parks and recreational programs," says McElroy. A 22-year veteran, McElroy is a member of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association and NRPA, and has coached tennis for Special Olympics for more that 15 years.

The Ohio Parks and Recreation Association is actively working with new partners in the health and wellness arena, including the Ohio Action for Healthy Kids. This is a state committee of individuals representing the elementary and middle school principals, superintendents, dietitians, children's hospitals, etc. OPRA will host a two-day summit in Columbus, Oct. 2-3, to develop an action plan to improve the diet and activity level of Ohio's children. OPRA will develop 10 regional teams that include recreation professionals to get the job done. OPRA has appointed a Healthy Kids Task Force, chaired by Mary Beth Thaman, CPRP, director of Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, to develop regional workshops for members focusing on connecting local park and recreation agencies to local health initiatives. For more information, go to www.opra.org.

Ohio Greenways, a publication put out by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, received special recognition from the Environmental Education Council of Ohio, because it made a significant contribution to public

understanding of the environment. The presentation was made to Elaine Marsh, project director, by Carolyn Watkins of the council at the annual EECO conference in March. The project was developed to assist local communities and organizations that are struggling to protect open space, and seeking financial support from the Clean Ohio Fund and other sources. It includes a summary of state and federal funding sources and application deadlines to assist local fundraising efforts, and will continue to be updated with new CD releases to keep current with changing dates and available funding sources. For more information, contact Elaine Marsh at [e-mail] or 830-657-2055.

The Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association has recently completed a new technical publication, Outdoor Recreation Facilities & Courts, that depicts the standards and diagrams for tennis courts, ball diamonds, horse shoe pits, skate board parks, disk golf, and basketball courts. Go to www.wpraweb.org for more information.

On May 1, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm announced the launch of the Michigan Creative After-School Experience, an online catalog of after-school programs for pre-kindergarten through high school students throughout the state. After-school programs are encouraged to add their sites to the database. For more information, go to www.micase.org.

Hundreds of parents pledged their support to provide positive experiences for youth participating in organized sports as part of the first Youth Sports Day in Ohio celebration at the Statehouse Atrium on June 11. As part of the Parents Association for Youth Sports Parent's Code of Ethics, these parents joined thousands nationwide who have taken the pledge to encourage good sportsmanship, while keeping youth sports in its proper perspective. "Organized youth sports programs are one of the greatest resources available for instilling valuable life skills in youngsters," says Michelle Park, executive director of the Ohio Park and Recreation Association "For this reason, we are working with parents and recreation professionals to provide safe, fun and positive sports for Ohio's youth." As part of a $30,000 grant from the National Alliance for Youth Sports, OPRA hosts academies to certify youth sports administrators, trains adults and help communities to develop model youth sports programs throughout the state. "In Marion alone, we have trained 50 coaches in various youth leagues and have had more than 300 parents go through the PAYS program and take the code of conduct pledge," says Jeannie Brewer, Marion Recreation Director. For more information, contact Michelle Park at 614-895-6222 or [e-mail], or go to www.opraonline.org.