West Chicago lauded for mud volleyball tourney

West Chicago Park District will be honored today for being "Downright Dirty" with the 2007 Best Special Event Award from the Illinois Park & Recreation Association conference.

This award acknowledges public agencies for their exceptional and unique achievement in the development of programs and special events.

The award is for the West Chicago Park District's annual Mud Volleyball Tournament held during the city's Railroad Days Festival.

"It is an honor to receive this award and recognition for a long-time event that continues in its popularity," said Frank Lenertz, president of the West Chicago Park District board of commissioners.

Peggy Krauch, retired superintendent of recreation, said, "Richard Sheriff, a park district commissioner in 1978, directed Kathy (Doell) Farraday to start a mud volleyball tournament."

The first event held 30 years ago in the area by the old tennis courts had eight teams for two days of play. One challenge the team players faced that first year was keeping clothing in place because of the terrific pull of the mud, recalled Lenertz.

"The next year, duct tape was a popular part of every team's outfit, including shoes, and it still is," he said.

The cohesiveness of clothing is not the only continuing aspect of the event -- it also has generation-to-generation participation.

"We have some families participating since the beginning, such as the Kuftas and a little later, the Seabolts," said Anna Rosalez, recreation coordinator. "Their kids have accepted the torch of the muddy challenge."

One change has been the manner of filling the volleyball court with "clean" fill dirt. In the beginning, regular dirt was brought to the site and watered down.

"True mud is now a commodity -- debris free," said Lenertz.

Now the six volleyball courts in West Chicago's Reed-Keppler Park are filled with 52 tons of mud for the about 60 teams playing in the two-day period. Family members, friends and neighbors create a festive spirit, cheering for their teams and bringing picnic lunches, but, most importantly, providing some source of clean clothing and lots of water to clean off with after the game.

"It truly is a 'clean' and fun event that all enjoy and we hope continues for many more years," said Lenertz.