On November 17, 2013, a tornado ravaged the town of Washington, Illinois. The destruction throughout the area was massive. One of the many organizations to step up to assist the community was the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), a nonprofit service, research and education organization that serves park districts, forest preserves, conservation, municipal park and recreation, and special recreation agencies. IAPD helped coordinate clean-up efforts on behalf of Washington Park District. Upon hearing that several staff members and commissioners were personally affected by this emergency situation, IAPD also instituted a Park and Recreation Relief Fund to aid these park district families. To date, that fund has raised over $21,000.
Volunteers from many park districts across the state headed to Washington to help clear debris left by the tornado. One of the volunteers who headed to Washington in the days directly following the storm was Steve Davis of Palatine Park District (PPD). Steve is a tradesman on the trades crew who has worked for the Parks Department for 25 years. Steve took PPD’s new dump truck and he and his 16 year old son, Ethan, headed to Washington to help with the clean up efforts. The volunteers worked from 7:00pm until 7:00am each day, helping move debris from the neighborhoods and affected areas. Steve and his son spent two evenings assisting with clean up efforts. When asked why he wanted to volunteer in Washington, Steve explained, “I have received help myself during some hard times, and I want to give back. You do what you can when an opportunity comes up. Plus, I like adventure!” According to Ed Tynczuk, Superintendent of Parks & Planning, “When the call for help from IAPD was sent out, I knew Steve would be interested in volunteering. He’s always willing to help out people in need.” In fact, this isn’t the only time Steve has stepped up to help others. Steve and his daughter Emily, then 16, helped out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
While Steve and his son were working in Washington, the Palatine Park District Service Committee was brainstorming ways that more people at PPD could help. Each year, the staff members collect funds to provide holiday presents for needy families through the Palatine Township. Following in the same vein, staff members wanted to take up some kind of collection to help those in Washington as well. PPD’s Service Committee Chair, Carol Lange, contacted Washington Park District and spoke with Recreation Manager Brian Tibbs. He helped Carol connect with Amy English, a part-time preschool teacher at Washington Park District. Amy and her family lost their home and their possessions as a result of the tornado. PPD added the English family to the 2013 adopt-a-family staff donation program, and collected over $900 for Amy, her husband Paul, and their children Emily (17), Russell (15), Joy (11), and Grace (10). Over 40 staff members and commissioners from PPD made personal donations of cash, gift cards, and presents to the English family. On Tuesday, December 17, Carol Lange and her husband Thom departed for Washington, IL to deliver the gifts. They were able to meet Amy and were given a tour of the park district and the surrounding areas that were destroyed by the tornado. In speaking with Brian Tibbs, Carol Lange discovered that one of the areas most upsetting to Tibbs is the loss of all of the trees in the parks and open spaces in Washington. Carol approached Cheryl Tynczuk, landscape architect for Palatine Park District, to see if she could recommend a tree that Carol could donate to the park district during her trip to deliver the presents. While this time of year is not conducive to transporting and planting trees, Cheryl suggested sending trees to Washington in the spring when weather conditions will be better suited to this effort. After approaching the Palatine Park Foundation, Carol received approval to begin a fundraising effort to collect money to purchase trees to be planted in Washington in the spring. More information about this tax-deductible donation opportunity will be available in the Palatine Park District Spring Catalog at the end of February, providing a means for the entire Palatine community to help the town of Washington.
According to Mike Clark, Palatine Park District’s Executive Director, “Knowing Doug, the Executive Director of Washington Park District, this tragedy hit close to home even though our districts are far apart geographically. Our industry is tight knit and we look out and care for each other. It was just a natural feeling to help our colleagues. I am happy and proud that the Palatine Park District could be of assistance in a critical time of need. We wish everyone in the Washington community all the best and support the efforts to help the community recover and begin to move forward.”
The mission of Palatine Park District is to provide a variety of safe, enjoyable and affordable parks and recreation facilities and activities that will enhance the quality of life by promoting good health and well- being for all residents and visitors of the Palatine Park District.
Photos for this article provided by Steve Davis and Carol Lange, employees of the Palatine Park District.
