Lake County wants to replace Seniors Day Celebration

A summer staple in Lake County that's featured free food, bingo and big-band music for seniors may be going the way of the Edsel.

Budget concerns and declining attendance have prompted the possible end of the annual Seniors Day Celebration picnic sponsored by the Lake County Forest Preserve District. However, officials said, the older population would not be forgotten under a proposal floated Monday.

By a 3-2 vote, a forest preserve district committee favored jettisoning the gathering that most recently has been at the Independence Grove preserve near Libertyville and replacing it with programs perhaps on nature or history brought to townships, municipal senior centers and libraries across Lake County.

In addition, there might be a month designated for free senior admission at Lake County Discovery Museum near Wauconda and an early-evening concert with specially selected music at Independence Grove.

Monday's recommendation eventually will be forwarded to the full forest board for a formal, binding vote.

Originally held at Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda and launched in 1972, Seniors Day has featured free food, bingo, health-related exhibits, horseshoes and bands such as the Guy Lombardo Orchestra. And similar to a high school prom, kings and queens were named for the day.

Forest board member Mary Ross Cunningham argued against dropping Seniors Day and disputed the actual cost. Staff time and other expenses are estimated at $100,000, but Cunningham said employees already are on the clock and don't cost the forest district extra for the event.

“Most seniors look forward to that,” said Cunningham, who with forest board member Audrey Nixon were the two supporters of keeping the event intact during Monday's education, cultural resources and public affairs committee meeting.

But forest board member Collin O'Rourke, who was part of the majority for the 3-2 vote, said dwindling Seniors Day attendance and the fact most attendees are only from Libertyville, Grayslake, North Chicago and Waukegan were reasons to end the picnic and go in a different direction. He said many seniors haven't been served by the picnic.

“Our mission is to deliver programming,” O'Rourke said.

Lake County officials said the picnic was a way to recognize the role seniors play in the community. Attendance hit about 5,000 in 2000, but last year's crowd was reported at 1,300.

Forest preserve district board President Bonnie Thomson Carter said much of what's been offered at the picnic often is found elsewhere nowadays. She said she agreed with the recommendation to attempt to reach more seniors in different ways while saving money.

“We've got some real struggles here financially for the next three years,” she said.