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Dear Frankfort Square Park District Residents:
In recent years, my tri-annual reports have begun with what is new for the upcoming months. New and exciting changes have been ongoing in recent history, and I am hard pressed to update residents on all of the opportunities in such a limited space. Expansion of park district services and facilities begins with a supportive community, but key components to district success equally includes elected Board Members who donate time and provide direction, dedicated professional staff that implement programs and build and maintain park facilities, and countless volunteers who donate time and effort.
Since FSPD’s incorportation in 1974, many first experiences residents have with the park district begin with enrollment in the Early Learning Center (ELC). Brenda Kushner has been the Director of this ever-popular, constantly expanding program for 3-4 year olds.
Brenda began working in the ELC over 26 years ago, and she has guided the expansion, moving from the first park building on Rosewood Drive, to the existing Braemar Lane Community Center in 1991. Brenda was again called upon to further develop the preschool wing when the Community Center expanded in 2002.
The building is a wonderful space, but what really makes the program continually successful is Brenda’s leadership, mentoring a staff of eight teachers and aides with the wealth of experience accumulated throughout her tenure. During her career, more than 5,000 residents have graduated from the ELC, gaining their first classroom experience at the FSPD.
Brenda has decided to begin a much deserved retirement at the end of this school year, and in typical fashion, she has offered to assist in the transition to ensure that the success of the ELC program continues. Simple thanks are not adequate enough to express park district and community appreciation for Brenda’s years of dedicated service.
You cannot live within our community and be unaware of the completion of the new Summit Hill Junior High and the soon-to-be-completed Lincoln-Way North High School. These facilities will offer park district residents tremendous recreational opportunities. This is possible due to community support and to school leadership that realizes the benefit of opening their facilities for community activities.
Lincoln-Way North High School will open its doors to students this fall, and a community open house is scheduled for Sunday, August 3, 2008. The Lincoln-Way School Board, administrators, faculty, and staff are excited about this wonderful facility, and cannot wait to show residents the new home of the Lincoln-Way North Phoenix.
An additional celebration is being planned for September, the first Phoenix Homecoming event.
Cooperative efforts between Lincoln-Way, the FSPD, and numberous community groups will include a parade, bonfire, fireworks at the Homecoming football game, numerous performances by Lincoln-Way athletic teams, band, and Frankfort Square youth sports teams. A special July brochure will be mailed, detailing a full schedule of events and activities.
The park district Recreation staff has been working for over a year to plan programming at the new high school, taking full advantage of the wonderful field house, gymnasium, pool, fitness center, athletic fields, and fine arts center that will soon be available for park use. Sincere thanks are extended to the Lincoln-Way School Board Members, Dr. Wyllie, Superintendent; Dr. Gardner, Principal; Matt Lyke, Athletic Director; Aimee Lonigro, Assistant Athletic Director; and countless other Lincoln-Way staff that have been supportive of the park district and community organizations.
The special July brochure will include fall park district programming and continuation of the many popular activities that have been so successful at the East and Central campuses.
Thanks to all residents that completed the park community-wide survey, distributed over the winter months. Resident input is the primary factor in all aspects of park planning for programming, facilities, and services. A complete recap of survey results will be available at the park office and on the park web site this summer.
The Park Board continues to solicit resident input through park e-mail, direct mail, or by contacting the park district office. Additionally, the Park Board meets monthly, providing all resident an opportunity to address the Board directly, or just to attend and learn more about current park district issues.
Sincere thanks for your continued support,
Jim Randall
Executive Director
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