South Elgin park finalist for Hometown Award

A memorial plaza dedicated to South Elgin children and police officers whose lives were cut short by accident, illness or other causes is on the shortlist to receive a 2008 Governor's Hometown Award.

Members from the award selection team on Wednesday toured the Footprints in Time Memorial Plaza at the corner of La Fox and West State streets to evaluate the project.

Each year, the Hometown Award honors outstanding volunteers throughout the state. The award is sponsored by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Judges Mark and Nadine York, of Equality, Ill., met with village officials, families and volunteers who created the memorial, which features a bronze statue of a girl leap-frogging over a boy. Pavers surrounding the statue are engraved with the name of a child or a personal message.

"This is impressive and obviously there was a lot of community involvement," Mark York said. "It is a unique project compared to what we have seen. There are not a lot of memorial parks, usually they are ball parks or concession stands."

Parks and Recreation Director Jim Reuter said "everybody did something for the project," whether it was donating money, helping with the landscaping or keeping the statue and memorial pavers clean.

"There was a lot of community involvement and community spirit in this memorial," Reuter said. "It is very unique to this area."

It is not known when the winners will be announced and Mary Vandenboom, assistant to the village administrator, said the memorial's inclusion on the finalist's list was recognition enough.

"To even get a site visit and knowing they took a look at our application and sent judges from southern Illinois is enough for us." Vandenboom said.

About half a dozen families attended the visit, including Jackie Rumachik and her two children Hunter, 7, and Madeline, 11 months. Chase Rumachik was 2-1/2 when he drowned is the Fox River in 2006.

Jackie Rumachik said the family visits the memorial once a week.

"This is a happy place for us now," said Jackie Rumachik as Hunter cleaned the statue with baby wipes.

The village won a Hometown Award in 2002 for its Special Night for Special Kids. The special night kicks off the village's RiverFest Express and is only open to children with special needs and their families so they can enjoy the carnival's rides, entertainment, games and food without the big crowds.