Carol Stream parks net environmental honor

Ian Everett was surprised at the relatively small amount of recycling done in the area when he came to the U.S. from Wales three years ago. When he began a job as marketing communications coordinator for the Carol Stream Park District last April, he saw a chance to help change that.

Soon thereafter, the park district started the seven-member Green Team, and Everett volunteered immediately. Since its creation this year, the team has encouraged staff members to turn off lights that are not in use; program guides are now printed on recycled paper; and recycling bins have been added to the parks. Everett concedes that the measures are not groundbreaking. But when taken as a group, he said, their effect can be substantial.

"There are some very simple things that can be put in place and make everything look greener and save money," Everett said. "The park district is trying to encourage the whole community to be green by setting the example."

The effort has paid off. The park district this week received an Earth flag, which is awarded by a Glen Ellyn-based conservation group to public entities that encourage eco-friendly programs.

The park district works with other area organizations to keep increasing its environmental programming, Everett said.

They do so to make sure people keep green programs on their minds.

"It's easy to forget about it sometimes," he said. "We are always looking for ways to make the park district even greener."

In April, representatives for Schools and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education, or SCARCE, toured the park district and offered suggestions to help the district become more energy-efficient. They also suggested recycling bins.

As a result, the park district set up recycling bins at parks throughout the community. The park district now has three trash cans for every recycling bin. Everett said the goal is to ultimately have an even split between trash cans and recycling bins.

"Park districts should be leaders in demonstrating green initiatives," said SCARCE founder and Executive Director Kay McKeen, who started the group in 1990 helping schools. She recently added municipalities and park districts.

She said she was raised in an environmentally aware home and is encouraged by the state of recycling today.

"It's a way to help the environment and save the taxpayer's money," she said. "Five years ago, nobody was even talking about it so that's huge."

With construction on a new recreation center set to begin in the next several years, Everett said it's a great opportunity to push the environmental aspect of their work forward.

"The board has made it part of the strategic plan for the next 10 to 15 years to make sure the park district is a leader in being eco-friendly and green," he said. "It needs to be a leader because parks are such a vital part of the community."