Illinois Parks Association will recognize Naperville Noon Lions Club & Foundation and Naperville Park District with its Partnership Award to be presented Oct. 24 in Wheeling, IL.
The Illinois Association of Park Districts will present its 2014 Partnership Award to the Naperville Noon Lions Club & Foundation and the Naperville Park District for their collaboration to enhance parks to benefit the community.
The award presentation will take place on Friday, Oct. 24 at the IAPD’s annual “Best of the Best” awards ceremony at Wheeling Park District.
“The Naperville Noon Lions are well known in our community for their hugely popular Turkey Trot 5K, which supports their mission to help those with sight or hearing impairments,” said the Park District’s executive director, Ray McGury. “We are pleased to partner with them in projects that further their mission and also support parks and recreation in two unique locations in Naperville.”
In 2013 and 2014, the Naperville Noon Lions Club and their associated Foundation supported two of the Naperville Park District’s major capital projects that will help meet the recreational needs of youth, those with disabilities and the entire community.
The first project was the 2013 renovation of Knoch Park near Naperville’s downtown. The Club provided a drinking fountain along the new trail near the ball fields. The fountain serves walkers and runners, an estimated 8,000 ball players and spectators annually, thirsty pets, and crowds of up to 250,000 that walk through the park during Ribfest each July 4th weekend. The fountain helps support a healthy lifestyle, which is a priority both for the Park District and the Noon Lions.
In the second project, the Club helped fund accessible educational signs along the trails at Knoch Knolls Nature Center, which opened on October 2, 2014 in south Naperville. The Club’s contribution will support the addition of a mobile tour system in 2015 that will provide, via mobile devices, both audio and visual information linked to the signs. Audio descriptions and text will assist those with sight and hearing impairments, while enriching the nature center experience for all visitors.
“The Naperville Noon Lions and Foundation are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the Park District in serving our community,” said Noon Lions President Jim Ebers. “The interactive signage at the Knoch Knolls Nature Center not only will directly assist the hearing and visually impaired by their use, but also will increase community awareness of those with disabilities.”
