Park Board Minutes 2010 10-28-10 4 ° ° o
Yorkville Parks & Recreation Department 3/a/,, 0
Administration Office - 201 W. Hydraulic St Yorkville, IL 60560 630-553-4357
Park Board Meeting
Parks and Recreation Administration Office
7:00 p.m.
October 28, 2010
Call to Order: Ken Koch called the meeting to order at 7:13 p.m.
Roll Call: Ken Koch —Yes; Vickie Coveny—Yes; Seaver Tarulis —Yes
The business meeting was cancelled due to the lack of a quorum. However, the guests from the
Illinois Padding Council and Chicago Whitewater Association were invited to give their presentation
to the members present.
Introduction of Guests, City Officials and Staff:
Superintendent of Recreation — Sue Swithin
Superintendent of Parks — Scott Sleezer
City Council Liaison to Park Board —Diane Teeling, Ward 4 Alderman
Richard Hart— Chief of Police
Tom Lindblade, President, Illinois Paddling Council
Gary Mechanic, Vice President, Illinois Paddling Council
Sigrid Pilgrim, Board Member, Illinois Paddling Council
Erik Sprenne, Chicago Whitewater Association Representative
Rich Hart, Yorkville Chief of Police
Presentation:
Sigrid Pilgrim, board member of the Illinois Paddling Council, gave a presentation to members
present supporting the Illinois Paddling Council's request to name the Riverfront Park Whitewater
Recreational Facility after Marge Cline. Pilgrim spoke about the contributions that Cline made to the
paddling community for 30 years before her passing. She discussed Cline's personal involvement in
teaching water safety and becoming a mentor to people who wanted to paddle. Cline was not a
resident of Yorkville, but she was well known in the Chicago area and recognized nationally.
Tom Lindblade, Gary Mechanic, and Eric Sprenne gave their comments and answered questions
from the park board. They thanked members present for the opportunity to make the presentation
on behalf of Marge Cline. The narrative Pilgrim distributed at the meeting is included in the minutes
and details the many accomplishments and contributions of Marge Cline to the paddling community.
The Marge Cline naming request will be brought back to the Park Board for discussion and
recommendation.
Public Comment:
Sue Swithin took a picture of the guests from the Illinois Paddling Council and Chicago Whitewater
Association presenting Rich Hart, Yorkville Chief of Police, with a donation of$500.00 from the
Chicago Whitewater Association and $300.00 from the Illinois Paddling Council. Monies will be
used for rescue equipment and training. The Chief thanked both organizations.
Adjournment
A motion was made by Vickie Coveny and seconded by Seaver Tarulis to adjourn the meeting at
8:15 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 4, 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
Louise A. Beukelman
i
Park Board Meeting
October 28, 2010
Page 2 of 3
The narrative from Sigrid Pilgrim that was discussed and distributed at the meeting is included in the
minutes as follows:
MARGE CLINE- DECEMBER 27, 1940- OCTOBER 29, 2007
Marge Cline started paddling in 1949 in a dugout canoe and continued her involvement in the sport
throughout her much too short life. Marge was an important and active member of both national and
local paddling organizations. She has started and trained thousands of paddlers in the Chicago area
for over 3 decades. In 2000, Marge Cline was honored by Paddler Magazine for being one of 100
"Paddlers of the 20th Century"who've made a difference. She was also given posthumously the
Illinois Environmental Hero Award by then Lt Governor Pat Quinn.
Marge was instrumental in bringing the American Canoe Association's instructor program to the
Midwest, especially after the Red Cross discontinued its own small boat instruction classes. Marge
took it upon herself to provide instructor training to numerous organizations - Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts, Nature Centers, Summer Camps, River Stewart Volunteers such as the Friends of the
Chicago River, and many more.
Paddlesport in Illinois and throughout the Midwest, if not the Nation, owe much to Marge by her
insistence on paddling education and safety
To name the Yorkville Whitewater Venue in her honor would be a tribute to her dedication to
safety and recognize her achievement.
Some notable accomplishments that Marge Cline has been known for:
• Candidate for International Whitewater Hall of Fame 2006
President, American Whitewater Association 1982- 1988
Paddler Magazine - 100 Paddlers of the Century
1990 ACA 'Legend of Paddling'award
2002 ACA 'President's Award'
President of the Midwest Division of ACA
• National board of directors of ACA
Instructor Trainer Educator with ACA (only 1 of about 20 in the country)
• Editor of the CW A newsletter for 28.5 years
Judge for many years at the National Paddling Film Festival
1983 National Paddling Film Festival- Winner 8mm Film: Recreational Scenic-
Gallatin and Yellowstone River
My own personal memories of Marge Cline go back to the late 1970's when she joined what was
then and continues to be one of the Chicago Whitewater Association's winter instructional programs
at the YMCA's pool in Oak Park.
Soon Marge took over the club's newsletter and was its editor for over 28 years. During that time she
also started and distributed CONFLUENCE- a compilation of the best articles from other clubs'
newsletters she exchanged with organizations around the country.
Park Board Meeting
October 28, 2010
Page 3 of 3
Marge Cline viewed paddling a canoe or kayak not only as a recreational activity, but a means to
gain self confidence and self reliance, as well as to appreciate nature and respect the power of
moving water.
The Yorkville Whitewater Venue is a facility that has tremendous potential as has been shown in
many other similar venues. I know if Marge was still with us, she would be standing in my place and
already have made a commitment to conduct educational classes for anyone interested in learning
the skill of putting a blade to water!
But beyond offering instructional paddling programs or letting anyone just enjoy the pleasures of
riding the waves, your facility also has value in teaching water safety/rescue skills, basic hydrology
or limnology and in general, be a teaching resource for many environmental and outdoor subjects -
all of which Marge Cline believed in and shared with her legacy of students.
I am also convinced that naming the Yorkville Whitewater Venue in honor of Marge Cline, would
give your city important recognition beyond your borders. Word has already spread into neighboring
states and we have already received comments from paddlers there that they cannot.wait to come.
With Marge Cline -lovingly also known as RIVER MOM- still being so well known in the paddling
community- dedicating the facility to her will quickly become widely known.
The positive economic impact of whitewater venues is well known. The uniqueness of the Yorkville
Facility in our region and the recognition of Marge Cline's contributions to the sport nationally,
regionally, and locally, are mutually reinforcing to the benefit of your city.
I greatly appreciate your consideration of naming the Yorkville Whitewater Course in honor of
MARGE CLINE.
Respectfully submitted
Sigrid Pilgrim