2012 Budget Summary - Chicago Park District

Natural ResourcesThe Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for maintaining and managing the district’sover 8,100 acres of land, including 2 world-class conservatories, 25 acres of floral gardens citywide,1,000 turf-based athletic fields, more than 500 soft-surfaced playgrounds, an urban forest of 250,000trees, 31 public beaches, more than 500 acres classified as nature areas, and 25 lagoons and naturalwater features. DNR administers and manages the district’s contracts for trash removal and recycling,enhanced landscape maintenance for 20 miles of landscaped medians, elevated care and maintenancefor the Museum Campus and Grant Park, as well as the district’s holiday lighting and holiday treerecycling programs.Department ExpendituresAccount 2010 Actual 2011 Budget 2012 BudgetPersonnel Services $ 20,841,057 $ 22,728,682 $ 22,348,548Materials & Supplies $ 1,220,243 $ 1,237,395 $ 1,147,556Small Tools & Equipment $ 191,941 $ 255,000 $ 229,500Contractual Services $ 8,047,548 $ 8,885,915 $ 8,540,033Program Expense $ 15,093 $ 25,000 $ 10,369,240Total $ 30,315,882 $ 33,131,992 $ 32,290,637Personnel FTE 497.4 497.4 474.1$35,000,000$32,500,000$30,000,000$27,500,000$25,000,0002010 2011 20122011 AccomplishmentsPlanting and landscape: Installed more than 1,500 trees in 75 parks; planted and maintained500,000 annuals in 80 gardens.Landscape Operations: Maintained additional turf fields and landscaping with no increase inpersonnel; completed the change-out of the mower fleet with new, more fuel efficient equipment;transitioned to smaller snow removal equipment to improve efficiency and minimize landscape andinfrastructure conflicts; designated a dedicated crew for artificial turf field maintenance to optimizeproficiency and frequency of care and to ensure recommended standards of maintenance are metand exceeded.Forestry: Continued the weed and invasive woody plant removal program; successfully dealt with amajor storm events which caused the destruction of more than 220 mature trees and significantdamage to an additional 900 trees.Nature Areas: Continued research work on prairie restoration practices; completed research oncarbon sequestration in turf and prairies; completed Urban Natural Areas Restoration Manual;completed Urban Native Landscaping Guide; completed 10 natural areas management plans; heldthe second annual “Nature in Chicago” photo contest; designed 10 interpretative signs for naturalareas; performed prescription burns at 15 natural areas.Conservatories: Increased number of species in plant collections by 121; increased size of volunteerprogram at Garfield Park Conservatory by 8%; created an All-American Selection garden at Garfield;installed video screen in lobby of Garfield Park Conservatory and developed video-basedinterpretive information regarding hail storm; designed and installed new ceremonial garden spaceat Garfield Park Conservatory.Trash removal: Instituted a trial Free Green Can program to decrease in-house and contract trashremoval costs and generate a new revenue stream.98