In a village a of little over 4 square miles there are 18 parks and outdoor recreation facilities managed for the residents of Villa Park. Winding through Villa Park are also portions of three countywide trails including the Illinois Prairie Path, The Great Western Trail and the Salt Creek Greenway. The Villa Park Parks and Recreation Department manage each of these facilities. Now all of them are about ready to go up for adoption.

That does not mean that the parks and paths will go away and be reused for purposes other than fun and year round activities. What it does mean is the people of the Village can take on the role in caring for the parks in their neighborhood. And by springtime, there could be an army of residents and community organizations taking care of each facility year round.

Too often Earth Day is the only day in the year that we actively care for the areas we play in and enjoy in the outdoors. Villa Park has gone beyond the activities of Earth Day to include a program by the Villa Park Pride Commission to organize a clean up of the bikes trails. The Environment Concerns Commission along with the Villa Park Citizen’s Police Academy and resident volunteers has revitalized the METRA Station. Now the Village of Villa Park is poised to do much more by initiating an Adopt-A-Park program.

The Superintendent of Parks, Buildings and Grounds - Marlon Hummell has outlined a program to organize volunteers that monitor each park and facility or other areas his staff maintains. A group can Adopt A Park and help maintain the beauty and enjoyment of the facility by removing litter, checking for damage or vandalism and making sure the equipment is safe for children and residents. Although the same activities are done by the Parks & Recreation Department, the additional service by groups and residents will help keep the parks and facilities beautiful by checking them more often.

The Adopt A Park program can be supported and promoted by many of the Commissions in Villa Park including the Villa Park Cable Commission, Community Pride Commission, Environmental Concerns Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission and the Neighborhood Watch Programs. Each will have the opportunity to support and promote the Adopt A Park program in Villa Park.

The Elmhurst Parks Department has an Adopt A Park program for its 22 park facilities. A recent news report about the program stated that all of the parks had been adopted for the last four years. The Elmhurst program involves a monthly committment by each group that adopts the park and the group is recognized with a certificate and in the Park District program. The organizations who adopt the facilities clean up litter, report damage or vandalism and provide input and suggestions to the Parks Department.

It is programs like these that take back the meaning of community service. Almost every day a news report includes a story about a famous person who through the court system is sentenced to community service. Over time, many of us have begun to equate community service only as a form of punishment. In fact, community service is an activity to be proud of and the Adopt A Park program is another example of community service done for the right reasons.

If you and your organization are interested in the Adopt A Park program, then please contact the Villa Park Parks and Recreation Department at www.vprd.org or call (630) 834-8525. A new web site created by the Villa Park Cable Commission will be available beginning Wednesday February 15 at www.adoptavillagepark.com At the web site; you will find information about the program, videos describing the Adopt A Park activities and contact information.