Parks Foundation
PLEASE SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION!
As you know, your Decatur Parks Foundation and the Decatur Park District work together to provide outstanding facilities, services and programs.
Whether your passion is sports, the arts, Scovill Zoo, or our beautiful parks and play areas, please help us continue to enhance our community's quality of life by making a donation to the Decatur Parks Foundation. The Foundation is a 501 (C) 3 organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.
Please mail your gift to Decatur Parks Foundation, 620 E. Riverside Dr., Decatur, IL 62521. For more information, please call the Foundation office at 422-5911. Thank you for your support!
Living Tribute Program
Honor a loved one or commemorate a special event by having a tree planted through the Park Foundation's Living Tribute Program. With your $500 donation, 
the Park District will plant and care for your tree. In addition, you will be presented with a Living Tribute Certificate and a map highlighting the location of your tree. Select from a Red Maple, Norway Maple, Red Oak, or Dogwood. The Living Tribute Program offers a natural gift that will beautify Decatur's parks for the entire community to enjoy.
Park Bench Recognition Memorials
With your donation of $750, an attractive, 6-foot bench will be placed in a Decatur park, complete with a plaque inscribed with your message or loved one's name. Your donation will make a lasting memory while providing park visitors a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the beauty of their surroundings.
Beautiful memorial benches provide a relaxing place to enjoy nature and commemorate an occasion or remember a loved one.
Download a request form for Living Tribute trees or park bench recognition memorials here or call Lisa Gillen at 422-5911. Foundation Information
About Us
Through the work of committed directors, the Decatur Parks Foundation enhances park and recreation projects and programs. We appreciate the generosity of the individuals and corporations that have made the following projects possible to benefit our entire community:
- Anna Bethel Fisher Rock Garden
- Big Creek Riding Center Renovation (2008)
- Decatur Park District Bike Trail System
- Dreamland Lake
- Fairview Park Rose Garden (2008)
- Fido Fields Dog Park (2007)
- Project Playground
- Project Playground II
- Rotary Park
- Schaub Floral Display Center
- Scovill Zoo Shilling Environmental Education Center
- Scovill Zoo Endangered Species Carousel
- Scovill Zoo Zebra Exhibit (2007)
- Ursula Beck Tennis Center
- Wikoff Oriental Garden at Scovill Park
FOUNDATION DIRECTORS
Judith Locke, President
Erv Arends
Dale Arnold
Dr. Wendell Becton
Cindy Black
Bob Brilley II
Brian Byers
Cindy A. Deadrick
Kara Demirjian-Huss
Ed Flynn
Larry Foster
Tom Hostetler
Dr. Stephen Huss
Kara Johnston
Jack Kenny
Don Luy
James Neff
Pete Paulin
Chris Riley
Cyndy Smith
Mark Tupper
Dr. William Van Alstine
Kathy Wiesemann
Annual Appeal donors
Many thanks to the following individuals for their generous donations to the Foundation's annual appeal!
Kerry Albert
Dee and Larry Altenbaumer
Sally and Mick Andreas
Linda and Erv Arends
Sandra and Ritchie Barnett
Gwendalyn and Paul Baumann
Theresa and Donald Couch
Sue and Tom Dickes
Mary Lou and Warren Ferriell
Betty and Jim Fletcher
Dr. Alan and Beth Frigy
Lisa and Dan Gillen
Barbara and Tom Hostetler
Kara and Mark Huss
Beth and Jim Kiefer
Dr. Jon and Kathy Locke
Dan McCall
Judith Meldahl
Marcia and Doug Millar
Dorothy and Walter Morey
Judi and Thom Moss
Dr. Richard and Phyllis Pacholski
Verlyn and Paul Rosenberger
Gene Sotdorus
Pamela and Jim Stewart
Nancy and Richard Waltermeyer
Kathy and Robert Wiesemann
Projects
Fun for All Scholarships
Children grow and learn from recreation, sports, the arts, and play! To ensure that all individuals are able to participate in Park District activities, a Fun for All Scholarship Program has been established to aid qualified Decatur residents. To make a contribution to this program, please call the Foundation office at 422-5911.
Sunnyside Park Restoration Project
If you love baseball, the Decatur Commodores invite you to become a fan! Check the league website at www.decaturcommodores.com for player rosters, schedules and information. The Commodores' home diamond at Sunnyside Park is in need of restoration. A new scoreboard, fencing, and bleachers are just a few items on the wish list. Thanks to the efforts of Behnke & Company and generous donations by Travelers Insurance, the future looks bright! To make a donation to the Sunnyside Park Restoration Project, call the Foundation office at 422-5911.
Park Watch Program
In response to an ontoing problem with vandalism, the Park District has developed "Park Watch" to help prevent crimes in our parks and on Park District property. This new program offers rewards leading to the arrest of individuals responsible for these crimes. As you drive by parks, playgrounds and facilities, please be on the look-out. These areas belong to all in our community and are supported by tax dollars. If you have a tip to help us catch vandals, call Park Watch at 422-5911.
You may leave your contact information or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, you will be assigned a code number. If your information leads to an arrest, you may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.
Your financial support of this ongoing initiative is most appreciated! Contributions may be made payable to the Decatur Parks Foundation with a memo note: Park Watch Program. Thank you!
Fido Fields Dog Park 
Looking for a fun place to exercise your pet? Visit Fido Fields in Decatur’s Fairview Park! This 2.5-acre, fenced recreational space provides an exercise area for dogs and an opportunity for socialization for their owners. Fido Fields features an electronic, double-gated entrance with separate play areas for large and small dogs. For more information or to register your pooch, call the DISC at 429-3472.
To make a donation to fund future improvements at Fido Fields, please call the Park District at 422-5911.
Events
2010 Scovill Zoo Open 
The Decatur Parks Foundation's 2010 Scovill Zoo Open has been rescheduled for Thursday, August 12 at Hickory Point Golf Course. All proceeds benefit Scovill Zoo. Please join us!
2010 Scovill Zoo Open Rain Date
Thursday, August 12
Hickory Point Golf Course
TIME: 12:15 p.m. - Shotgun Start
5:00 p.m. - Reception, Music & Prizes
FEE: $600 per team
Contact Rick Anderson at 421-7468 (rick@decparks.com) of Lisa Gillen at 422-5911 (lgillen@decparks.com) for more information!
View photos from the 2009 event! Photo Gallery
Decatur Commodores Sunnyside Invitational Baseball Tournament
The Decatur Commodores Sunnyside Invitational tournament, scheduled for June 10 - 13 at Sunnyside Park, was a wonderful success! Travel teams from across the Midwest participated, including the Kansas City Sluggers, Lids Missouri Bulls, FCA Torchbearers, Central Illinois Stars, Springfield Blue Chips, Rawlings Prospects, and the Decatur Commodores (U17 and U18).
The welcome picnic for coaches and players included a performance by the Decatur Park Singers and presentations by Dan Hartleb (Varsity Baseball Coach for the University of Illinois), Itch Jones (former Head Baseball Coach for the U of I), and former MLB pro Brian McRae (Kansas City Royals '90 - '94, Cubs '95 - '97, and Mets '97 - '99).
Over the weekend, 15 scouts from Division I - III schools, one MLB team, and several junior colleges attended the tournament to watch some of our community's most talented baseball athletes.Special thanks to presenting sponsor, Behnke & Company!
Zoo-rific Evening at Scovill Zoo
Plans are under way for a Zoo-rific Evening at Scovill Zoo! This unique event, 
scheduled for August 28, will feature star gazing, animal demonstrations, specialty wines and food stations located throughout the zoo, a display of animal art works, fine dining, fabulous music and much more!
Gather your friends and purchase a table at this one-of-a-kind event. For more information, call the Foundation office at 422-5911!
All proceeds will benefit Scovill Zoo.