Wheaton Park District staff huge help in crisis

I would like to extend my appreciation to the staff of the Wheaton Park District for helping the day campers of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association.

On July 7, WDSRA had three different day camp groups at the Rice Pool. These campers all have special needs. A man with a gun was seen near the pool, and Wheaton police issued a lockdown order to the area. The park district staff helped evacuate the pool and get people to the community center.

Once in the center, the campers and other pool patrons were led to safety in the gymnasium. The park district staff were able to secure the building, post people at each entrance, and then to bring recreational supplies into the gymnasium for the children to play. No children were harmed, the WDSRA day camp staff were very skilled in helping the children cope with the situation by making it a positive one, and the children were able to leave the building at the normal time to return home.

The Wheaton Park District staff were professional, calming and thorough in their efforts. They help the WDSRA campers throughout the summer but really shined in this moment. Thanks from all the campers (and their families) at the pool that day.

Jane Hodgkinson

Executive director, Western DuPage Special Recreation Association

Carol Stream