FEATURED MEMBER

Carbondale Park District

Nestled within a beautiful, rural setting in Southern Illinois, Carbondale is located in Jackson County and borders the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest. In a region comprised of small towns, Carbondale distinguishes itself as a thriving urban center. The region boasts breathtaking natural beauty and one of the state’s best academic public institutions.

Southern Illinois University (SIU) provides educational and cultural opportunities not only to its student body of 20,000 members, but also to the residents of the surrounding community. Carbondale Park District works closely with the SIU Health, Education and Recreation departments providing internships and fieldwork opportunities.

“We certainly benefit from the vibrant groups of interns who assist us in all of our park district programming and endeavors,” stated Kathy Renfroe, Carbondale Park District Executive Director. “The students benefit from the hands-on experience in their course of study and our park district is infused with their energy, fresh perspective and enthusiasm. It is a great partnership.”

In addition to cultivating a strong partnership with SIU, Carbondale Park District is committed to enriching the quality of community life. Carbondale Park District fulfills its mission of service to the local community by offering diverse options for healthy leisure pursuits and heightening the appreciation of the natural world. Leisure activities and services are tailored to address specific community needs and accommodate a range of interests and age groups. Programming is designed for infants, preschoolers, youths, teens, adults, seniors, and families.

An example of the park district fulfilling a community-based need is the operation of two childcare facilities. Kids Korner offers child care after school and full-time during summer and most public school breaks for children in grades Kindergarten to 6th grade. The Alice Wright Early Childhood Center offers child care for children ages 15 months to 6 years old. Both centers are fully licensed by the state of Illinois and offer quality child care.

The Carbondale Park District also maintains seven beautiful parks featuring park shelters and pavilions, softball/baseball diamonds, soccer/football fields, Hickory Lodge Grounds, a gazebo, an 18-hole public golf course, and the LIFE Community Center with a heated indoor pool.

The LIFE Community Center offers swimming lessons, pool parties, aqua fitness programs, lap swimming, family swims, a waterslide, and open swimming. The Community Center is also home to many of the Carbondale Park District's recreational programming including: adult and senior fitness classes, educational classes, and preschool and youth recreational special interests programs.

Carbondale Park District has been an IPARKS Member for 19 years. Ms. Renfro stated, “We chose IPARKS because IPARKS directly connects us with our statewide organization, the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), which provides us with updates on legislation. Additionally, this affiliation gives us an equal voice in the ever-changing world of state and national government.”

When asked what she enjoys the most about working with Carbondale Park District, Ms. Renfro replied, “Our entire community works together to provide services to our citizenry. It is this spirit of cooperation that makes my role as the Park District Director so satisfying. The people of our community give generously of their time and talent.” 

For more information about Carbondale Park District, we invite you to visit their web site at www.cpkd.org. If you would like to learn more about how IPARKS can benefit your park district, please call 1.800.748.0554 and ask to speak with an IPARKS Representative.