On Saturday, March 21st, Illinois shut down. Just as parents and kids got to know each other about as well as they wanted to, summer hit. And with it, frayed nerves and mushy mid-sections. The digital lifestyle had not been good to our town of Type A's. It was time for some not-so-virtual reality.
Oh, Park District...!
As the taxing body charged with our collective mental and physical well-being, the Winnetka Park District was on it. Even though nobody was quite sure what 'it' was. How was the virus spread? Was the great outdoors good for you, or just another viral war zone? And then droplets. Size mattered. Who knew?
John Peterson knew. Appointed Executive Director of the Winnetka Park District smack in the middle of the pandemic, this long-time Winnetka resident, former Parks Board Commissioner and VP, was as qualified as anyone to crunch the conflicting data and address the needs of residents growing more desperate by the shelter-in-place minute.
With summer programs coming to an end, seemed like a good time to ask how that was working for him. He took our call.
The Governor’s stay-at-home order meant no Park District services or programs in March and April. How’d you reboot?
"During those months, the staff re-grouped to determine how programming and services would evolve to meet the needs of the residents, within the COVID-19 guidelines.
"Our terrific staff worked closely with the Village of Winnetka, the Winnetka Police Department, and the Winnetka Fire Department to ensure best practices and consistent policies within Winnetka.
"We opened for golf on May 1st, and outdoor tennis on May 12th. We strictly followed the Restore Illinois guidelines and managed the physical distancing requirements. With tennis, it was singles only, and using every other court. With golf, only twosomes, with reservations every 15 minutes.
"We also limited the ice arena to no-touch – physically-distanced activities, such as hockey skills sessions, freestyle skating lessons, or figure skating lessons.
"Since then soccer, baseball, lacrosse and hockey have re-opened, along with some new programming."
New programming…?
"The latest addition – Yoga Sculpt – was proposed by District residents through Teresa Claybrook, a WPD commissioner. The classes are held each Tuesday and Thursday morning. We’re excited by the significant enrollment in each session – approximately 40 attendees per session!
"We’ve added “Tidal Wave Thursdays” to the beach activities and “Wednesdays in the Woods” to park activities, and outdoor concerts for kids."
The “reverse parade” on the 4th of July was a huge hit.
"A big tip of the cap goes to Kelsey Raftery and Chris Varner, along with the marketing colleagues at the Village of Winnetka. This is yet another example of the various departments and Districts working well together. The event was planned and executed in less than two weeks – amazing!"
The beaches. With the shut-down, guidelines and restrictions just kept coming. How’d you get beach-ready?
"In late May, we were in Phase Two of Restore Illinois. Its health guidelines significantly restricted the WPD’s ability to certify lifeguards through the three-week training process. Meanwhile, demand for sunshine was driving more people to the lakefront. For about 10 days, the WPD’s administrative staff patrolled the beaches to make sure people were safe – no lifeguards yet – and to explain the beach guidelines.
"I never thought I’d be patrolling a beach, but it became such a great way to meet the residents and non-residents interested in the sun, sand, and surf.
"Once Phase Three was reached, lifeguards were added, and beachgoers began swimming in the lake."
With 3 of the 5 beaches closed to residents because of last winter’s storms, and more residents fed up with sheltering in place, you limited access to season-only passes. Why?
"As we entered June, it was clear we would be operating with 60% less beach capacity due to the high water level affecting Elder Lane Beach, Centennial Beach, and Lloyd Beach. The combination of lower-than-normal beach supply and higher-than-normal beach demand put enormous pressure on the two open beaches, Tower Road Beach and Maple Street Beach.
"Because the demand for beach services requires keen attention to operating safely and managing spacing for those who are using the beach on any given day, offering only season passes helped the WPD team keep better track of the number of beach goers."
Summer camps were considered an essential service by many stressed-out parents. How successful was the program this year?
"The WPD is thrilled with the results to date. More than 500 campers attended the programs. All counselors were trained to use COVID-19 health and social distancing standards. It’s been great watching all of the outdoor activities and lots of water play. The feedback has been very good."
COVID-19 cases in Illinois are ticking back up. Especially in the suburbs. Is the Park District ready for tighter guidelines?
"The staff is fully committed to looking for programming and services that will best utilize the WPD resources and serve the community in a COVID-safe environment. Governor Pritzker’s new restrictions on youth activities, as issued July 29th, requires the WPD to further evolve. We are up for the task!"
Elephant in the room. Budget?
"Because of COVID-19, 25% of WPD’s 2020 program revenue evaporated. The team rallied to adjust the timeline for near-term operating capital by pushing improvements to future months and years. We also held on as long as possible before making staff adjustments. Finally, we aggressively managed operating expenses to account for changes in the revenue line.
"On a related note, the WPD issued general obligation park bonds to raise capital for significant improvements, notably along the shoreline. In that process, and despite the previously referenced revenue issues, the WPD maintained its Moody’s Investor Service rating of Aa1, which is a great recognition of the staff’s management through the fluid environment presented by COVID-19."
Speaking of which…?
"We’re very proud of our current and proposed major capital improvements for the five parks and beaches along the lakefront.
"Great work’s been done at Tower Road to help residents get to the beach from street level. And the extensive breakwater system at Lloyd Beach will stabilize the shoreline there and help save our bluffs."
The #1 thing you want our readers to know about the WPD?
"The Winnetka Park District staff is always mindful of the safety of our residents, and of being great stewards of the taxpayers’ money. We truly want residents to be proud of its Winnetka Park District. We always welcome input, commentary, suggestions, etc. because we always want to know of opportunities to improve."
While you’re at it:
The Park District's upcoming activities
For your COVID-tude adjustment, a boatload of resources.
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