FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Plainfield Park District to offer programs in downtown Plainfield facility this fall
July 21, 2011

The Plainfield Park District has signed a long-term lease for space in the Heritage Professional Center located at 24023 Lockport St. in downtown Plainfield. Renovation of the space is already underway, and should be ready for occupancy by late August.

The Park District's Great Adventures Program for Preschoolers will relocate to the facility for the upcoming 2011-12 school year, making it the first Park District program to be offered at the new site. In addition to housing Great Adventures, the new facility will allow the Park District to offer a wider range of programs for people of all ages in the evenings, on the weekends and year-round.

"The recreation staff is always coming up with new program ideas, but the challenge has always been to find the physical space to hold them," said Cheryl Crisman, Superintendent of Recreation. "This facility is a wonderful opportunity for us, not only to expand our current program offerings, but also to offer some new and different things."

"One of the goals established in the Park District's 2010-2014 Parks and Recreation Master Plan process was to create a plan for an indoor facility that meets the expressed priorities and unmet needs of the Plainfield Park District community," said Executive Director Greg Bott. "One of the strategies determined to meet that goal was to consider alternative means of providing an indoor facility, including investigating the leasing of empty and unutilized buildings and facilities of private and public entities in the community. This building is centrally located in our district, and it allows us to add another facility for Park District programs."

"Our Park Board just approved the Master Plan at our March meeting. Here it is only July and we’re already making progress toward our goals,” said Mike Brann, president of the Park Board of Commissioners.

Based on the premise that children learn through play, Great Adventures participants ages 3 to 5 explore, create, discover, problem solve, and communicate to develop age-appropriate skills. Experienced, nurturing staff members implement a progressive program using themes to expose students to colors, shapes, numbers, and letters through a friendly, fun atmosphere. A balance of whole group and small group activities encourage academic and listening skills along with social interaction. Classes begin in early September and run through mid-May.

"We are looking forward to the new school year and great things to come," said Leslie Anderson, coordinator of the Great Adventures Program. "We are committed to working through any scheduling concerns or other issues that Great Adventures parents may have due to the move." Great Adventures classes at the Streams Recreation Center will continue as scheduled and not be affected.

Contact:
Marianne Ryan
Public Information Coordinator
Plainfield Park District
23805 W. Ottawa St., Plainfield, IL 60544

email | (815) 439-7940 ph | (815) 436-0483 fax

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