2012 Budget Summary - Chicago Park District

Core ValuesUtilitiesNearly 20% of electricity used in Chicago Park District facilities and parks comes from greensources. Sources like wind, solar and biomass produce are considered green electricity. Thesegenerate fewer emissions than traditional sources of electricity. The Park District is alsocontinuing its efforts to reduce its overall energy use through facility retrofits. By using moreenergy efficient heating and cooling systems, as well as lighting systems, the District continue toreduce the amount of energy used for Park facilities. Electricity usage has decreased by 9% andnatural gas usage has decreased by 15% (comparing usage data from 2008, through 2010) bymoving to more green sources of energy and retrofitting lighting and heating and coolingsystems.BiodieselThrough a new Biodiesel Production Program, the Chicago Park District, in partnership withDarling International, is converting recycled cooking oil from participating Chicago restaurants,including this year’s Taste of Chicago vendors, into ASTM certified biodiesel that will be utilizedto fuel close to 300 Chicago Park District vehicles and several of its lawnmowers. The District’sfleet of diesel vehicles uses approximately 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year. By usingbiodiesel, the Chicago Park District will reduce emissions, fuel costs, dependence on foreign oil,and reuse locally sourced grease that would otherwise be discarded. Current projections showthat the District will be able to produce biodiesel for $2.59 a gallon, a savings of almost $2.00 agallon retail. Currently 60% of CPD fleet vehicles are able to use this blended fuel. This alonewill save the District nearly $250,000 a year on fuel costs. Higher savings will be realized in thenext few years when the entire fleet will be able to utilize the biodiesel.Chicago Bears and Bears CareThe Chicago Park District’s intramural Junior Bear program gives 750 Chicago-area children ages7-13 from 17 citywide parks the opportunity to play football. for 10 weeks. The 10 week seasonculminates in the Mum Bowl championship played at Soldier Field. During half-time at the MumBowl, one Junior Bear will receive the Walter Payton Award that honors a player who not onlyexercises good sportsmanship, but is also an asset to his community.The Chicago Park District partners with Bears Care, the charitable beneficiary of the ChicagoBears, to provide the Junior Bear football program. Bears Care provides long-standing supportto the Chicago Park District by helping to fund the Junior Bears and Inner City Flag Footballprograms.27