Wheaton Park District Green Pages

Green Team Accomplishments 2009

In 2009, the Wheaton Park District Green Team established an Environmental Policy comprised of six policy actions. While our goal was to focus on policies 1, 4, and 6, accomplishments were made throughout the park district in all six areas.

Policy 1.0 Purchase and use Environmentally Safe and Sensitive Products
Purchase products for use in facility and park operations which minimize negative environmental impacts, taking into consideration the effects of product production, use, safety, storage, disposal and cost.

• The Green Team is in the process of researching an alternative to water coolers that would save the district money and eliminate waste generated by plastic bottles and water deliveries.
• The pools, Parks Department, and Cosley Zoo have all stopped purchasing Styrofoam products and replaced them with paper.
• Multiple departments have encouraged staff to use reusable bottles and mugs; some have even provided them for the staff, such as Cosley Zoo, Lincoln Marsh, and the pools.
• Arrowhead Golf Club began using several products made from biodegradable plastic, corn resin or sugarcane all of which are compostable within 45-60 days. (these products include: 16 oz cold drink cups and lids, 12/16 oz soup and hot drink cups and lids, and 10” buffet plates).
• The paper bags, paper towels, butcher paper rolls, and multifold bathroom towels used at Arrowhead Golf Club are made with recycled paper content.

Policy 2.0 Wise Use and Protection of Air, Water, Soil and Wildlife
Actively seek and implement ways to conserve and protect water and soil, enhance air quality, limit the production and release of damaging pollutants, and protect wildlife.

• Cosley Zoo’s parking lot expansion utilized permeable pavers and rain gardens.
• The shoreline stabilization project at Northside Park will better hold the shoreline
  as the water level fluctuates, increase wildlife habitat, help filter runoff into the lagoon, and reduce flooding.
• Cosley Zoo focused on repairing leaky faucets and hoses in animal care areas.
• The pools and Cosley Zoo both winterized their equipment.

Policy 3.0 Wise Use of Energy Resources
Actively seek and implement ways to conserve energy resources and investigate methods of applying alternative energy technologies.

• Lincoln Marsh installed a programmable thermostat to save energy and money.
• The Park Services Center installed a bike rack to encourage employees to ride to work.
• Lincoln Marsh and Cosley Zoo posted reminders by light switches encouraging staff to turn off lights when they leave a room.
• Solar lights were installed at the Lincoln Marsh Teams Course and in the pit toilet.
• Staff report being more mindful of turning off lights when they leave a room district-wide.
• Staff report turning off their computer monitors when leaving their desks for short periods and shutting them down at night.
• Staff report walking to nearby meetings rather than driving and carpooling when driving is necessary.

Policy 4.0 Reduction and Handling of Waste
Reduce waste production, reuse and recycle materials from facility and park operations, and handle hazardous and all other wastes according to lawful and safe procedures.

• The Green Team established the Abitibi Paper Retriever Recycling Program. The Paper Retriever dumpster is located in the Community Center parking lot. The program encourages paper recycling among staff and community members, can reduce our number of recycling pickups (saving the district money), and generates funds when the district meets weight goals. In 2009, the district recycled 5.57 tons of paper saving 16.71 cubic yards of landfill space and saved 22, 848. 14 KWH of energy.
• The WPD Program Guide was redesigned to save paper and reduce mailing costs. Over the course of a year, it saved the district $37,000 in printing and mailing fees.
• The Green Team began researching Free Green Cans—a program that provides recycling receptacles with ad space on the sides. Money made from the advertisements is shared with the host site.
• Cosley Zoo and Lincoln marsh collect ink cartridges for recycling.
• Marketing increased their use of 3-up flyers rather than full-page flyers to reduce paper waste and is taking advantage of email marketing when possible to save paper and money.
• Cosley Zoo began offering their members the option to receive an e-newsletter rather than a printed copy.
• Park Services used wood from felled trees to create a bench circle at Lincoln Marsh and a book shelf and cabinet at the Leisure Center.
• Staff reports reusing cardboard shipping boxes or breaking them down for recycling.
• Cosley Zoo and Lincoln Marsh established composts.
• Staff report an increase in internet communication vs. mailing, saving paper and money. Of special note is the use of email and sport-specific web pages within the Athletic Department when communicating with coaches and participants.
• Cosley Zoo collects cell phones and batteries for recycling.
• Staff reports printing two-sided whenever possible and reusing one-sided paper. Of special note is the increase of two-sided printing in Accounts Payable.
• Staff reports increased awareness and participation in recycling.
• Cosley Zoo began receiving out-of-code produce from Costco for use in animal diets.
• Cosley Zoo zookeepers instituted a computer-based daily reporting system, cutting down on paper usage considerably.

Policy 5.0 Open Space Planning and Preservation
Protect and restore indigenous natural communities such as prairies, woodlands and wetlands, and promote the reclamation, acquisition, preservation and management of other open space areas.

• Lincoln Marsh and Cosley Zoo volunteers dedicated nearly 1300 hours to managing native landscapes through National Public Lands Day, Lend a Hand Days, the Garlic Mustard Grab, prairie restoration, and assorted conservation service projects.
• The rain gardens installed in Cosley Zoo’s parking lot and the shoreline stabilization project at Northside Park both use native plants.
• The park district is establishing a native prairie on Lincoln Ave. adjacent to Lincoln Marsh. This installation is partly funded by an OSLASD (open space land acquisition and development) grant from the IDNR and will expand the Winfield Creek Greenway.
• Parks Services collected and redistributed native plant seeds within the district.
• The Lincoln Marsh office became certified through the Conservation Foundation’s Conservation@Home program. Certification shows a dedication to native plants, wildlife preservation, and water conservation.

Policy 6.0 Environmental Education and Interpretation
Provide education and interpretation opportunities for staff and the public which increase appreciation for the natural world and promote environmentally conscious lifestyles, emphasizing selective consumption and low-impact resource use.

• The Wheaton Park District Green Team expanded to include seven members representing various departments.
• A Green Team intranet page was established to educate and inform park district employees.
• A “Green Pages” section was added to the Wheaton Park District website to provide tips and resources to the community.
• The Green Team hosted a presentation by the Conservation Foundation for park district employees.
• A Green Team member attended three IPRA conference workshops focused on
  environmental issues and practices:
  • Greening your organization pilot project
  • Eco-friendly parks: an untapped programming resources
    
  • Just one green thing
• A Green Team member attended the Food Scrap and Organic Waste Composting Seminar presented by SCARCE on January 22.
• A Green Team member attended the 2009 Wild Things conference, presented by Chicago Wilderness. Sessions attended included:
  • Making Buckthorn work for you
    
  • History of the Plants of Chicago Region
    
  • Site based restoration planning and prioritization
    
• How to set up vegetation monitoring at your site
• Signs were installed at Lincoln Marsh encouraging visitors to “Pack out what you pack in.”
• Lincoln Marsh and Cosley Zoo represented their organizations at the Green Fair on September 26, hosted by Cantigny Park and SCARCE.
• The Green Team presented “We-Cycle” on November 12 to celebrate America Recycles Week. The event was held at the Community Center and was attended by over 100 participants from the community. The event was marketed by the Green Team throughout park district facilities, on the park district website, and at the Community Center’s Halloween Happening.
• The theme of the family game area at the 2009 Taste of Wheaton was “Lean & Green.” Each participating park district facility designed a game or activity promoting healthy and green living. Over 100 families participated.
• Two Green Team members attended a tour of SCARCE on July 15.
• Cosley Zoo hosted “Party for the Planet” on April 25, an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) event to celebrate Earth Day, attended by 440 participants.
• The Green Team promoted “Earth Hour 2009.” This world-wide event was held on
  March 28 and was acknowledged by turning off all power for one hour.
• Various conservation and nature-based education programs were offered through the Wheaton Park District, reaching over 18,000 participants.
• The park district partnered with the city to host a native plant sale, selling nearly 5,000 native plants. The Conservation Foundation sold rain barrels and the U of I Extension was on hand to provide information and answer questions.
  

WPD Employees Go Green at Home
In addition to accomplishments made in the workplace, Wheaton Park District employees reported that they have also taken steps at home and in their personal lives to conserve resources. Actions reported include switching to reusable lunch ware, composting, installing rain barrels, recycling, turning off lights, taking the train to work, and using reusable shopping bags.

View the Wheaton Park District's Environmental Policy »