Parks, Recreation & Forestry Committee

The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Committee advise the Village Board on the following topics: 

Parks

• To create and develop a short and long term plan and budget for the creation, development, and acceptance of parkland or the purchase of parkland and/or the development of recreational trails.
• To develop criteria by which the Village to determine if parkland, recreational trails, or passive parkland is acceptable. These criteria shall be a written form, which shall be provided to each developer, citizen, or interested individual for his or her use in proposing the development of acceptance of or purchase of parkland or recreational trails.
• To maintain an inventory of the parks and their usage and to determine if the needs of the neighborhood within which the park or recreational trial is located are being met.
• To create and develop a plan with an associated budget for maintaining the existing park areas and recreational trails within the Village.
• To create and develop a capital improvement plan/budget for upgrading, replacing and adding to existing park/recreational facilities, equipment and/or recreational trails within the Village.
• To research and apply for and seek alternate funding sources such as grants, donations, and bequeaths.
• To identify projects which will require fund-raising activities, and upon identification, the Village Board shall create an Ad Hoc Fund-Raising Committee. One member of the Committee shall serve on this Committee, along with four citizen members as appointed by the Village President and approved by the Village Board. 

Recreation

• To develop working relationships with other educational facilities, schools, and colleagues to provide programs for the community.
• To develop and maintain recreational education and leisure areas.

Forestry

• To serve in an advisory capacity to the Village Board relating to trees and shrubs located within street rights-of-way, parks, cemeteries, and other public places in the Village, and to trees and shrubs located on private property that constitute a hazard, threat, or nuisance as described herein.
• To prepare and maintain an inventory of trees located on public lands.
• To prepare and recommend to the Village Board a plan for the planting, care and maintenance of trees in the Village, including the number, species and location.
• To identify, improve and promote desirable plant species.
• To apply for county, state, federal and private grant moneys for the preparation and implementation of the Village’s trees and natural area program upon approval of the Village Board.
• To recommend such persons or firms who are qualified in urban forestry to assist in the development of urban forestry and natural area management for the Village
• To conduct Arbor Day observance and ceremonies annually
• Inform and educate Village citizens about the care of natural areas in their neighborhoods.

Composition

The Parks, Recreation & Forestry consists of five (5) members, of whom at least two (2) members shall be citizen members who are not village officials. The Village President appoints citizen members, who are subject to the confirmation of the Village Board for a term of a year. The Village Trustee(s) are appointed annually by the Village Board. 

Committee Seats