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Health & Fitness

Green initiatives in Deerfield Park District

Deerfield Park District is harvesting rainwater; potting, planting and widening native planting areas; and "greening up" in a number of other ways.

Deerfield Park District is harvesting rainwater; potting, planting and widening native planting areas; and “greening up” in a number of other ways. The District’s mission is to focus on providing and maintaining sufficient and attractive parks, facilities and programs to all the people of the Park District in the provision of leisure time activities. The District offers parks, open space and amenities including playgrounds, shelters, fields, natural areas, as well as varied facilities.

Over the past few decades, environmental aspects have played an ever-increasing role in the provision of services. And, especially over the past few years, a wide variety of “green initiatives” have been undertaken. Director of Parks Jay Zahn describes some of the more recent green efforts. At our Woodland Park, we have installed a permeable paved parking area, a rain garden and native planting area. We have also utilized a new Rain Harvesting System; and thus, the Woodland Park shelter has become the first building in the Chicago-land area to use rainwater to flush toilets. Future plans in store for Woodland Park include Savannah restoration. Throughout the past year or so, the Park District has also been moving district-wide through the process of converting old fixtures to those featuring high efficiency lighting.

Our recreation classes continue to include offerings such as “Recyclable Art” for early-childhood participants; our summer day camps include outdoor education and environmental awareness activities; and, starting in April, a new “Spring Potting and Planting” class is offered by Instructor Josette Huffman for children 3.5 through 5 year of age. The Deerfield Park Foundation continues to offer interested businesses or individuals the opportunity to make a contribution for a recycling container for a park or park/school location, complete with name recognition on one slat.

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Whether it’s taking time for a nature walk at Trail Tree Park or Briarwood Nature area (complete with interpretive signage) or having a picnic while listening to free summer musical entertainment in the parks, our mission is to help residents enjoy the benefits of recreation and leisure, while continuing to try and do our part in conservation and environmental efforts.

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