In compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, the Belvidere Park District provides the following information to assist citizens who ask for access to records authorized under the Act.
The request for access to public records must be made in writing. A Written Request can be made online or at the Park District’s Administration Office at 1006 West Lincoln Avenue, Belvidere, Illinois 61008. You may submit your written request in person at the address on this page or via mail, fax, or e-mail.
When submitting your written request, please be as specific as possible. The freedom of information act is designed to allow you to receive and /or inspect copies of records. It is not designed to require a public body to answer questions.
The first fifty pages of information, standard black and white copies, are free. For pages beyond fifty there is a .014606 cent per page charge. All color or oversized copies are the actual cost of reproduction.
When a written request for records has been submitted, the district must provide access to those records and/or copies of them within five business days. Under certain circumstances, this time limit may be extended for five more business days. Notice of this five day extension must be sent to the person requesting the records.
Please indicate if your request is for a commercial purpose. If, so the district must provide access to the records and/or copies of them within twenty-one business days. It is a violation of the Act for a person to knowingly obtain a public record for a commercial purpose without disclosing that it is for a commercial purpose.
Include your name, mailing address, phone number where you can be reached and if you wish e-mail address.
Cybersecurity
As a cybersecurity measure, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act now requires all electronic requests to be provided entirely within the body of the email or submission, not as an attachment or hyperlink. If the District receives a request with an attachment or link, the requester will be notified within five business days that the request must be resubmitted correctly. 5 ILCS 140/3(c).
Open Meeting Act, Section 7.3
The goal of the Belvidere Park District’s compensation program is to assure that the Park District maintains compensation and benefit program that attracts and retains capable and career-oriented employees while continuing to pay competitive wages and benefits for comparable work in the market place. Annually the District reviews salary/benefit information that is gathered from the Park District’s own market survey, the annual IPRA survey, and the Management Association of Illinois (MAI) survey which encompasses a variety of public and private sector organizations in the Belvidere Park District as well as Park Districts within our region.
In compliance with Section 7.3 of the Open Meetings Act, effective January 1, 2012, employers participating in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund must post a physical copy of the compensation package for each employee that exceeds $75,000 per year. This information for employees of the Belvidere Park District will be posted in the office of the Executive Director; 1006 W. Lincoln Ave, Belvidere, Illinois. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.
Types of records available from the Belvidere Park District:
- Ordinances
- Board Meeting Agendas
- Annual Audits
- Accounts Payable and Receivable
- Inspection reports
- Letters sent by the District
- Administrative Ordinance
- Job Descriptions
- Bond Information
- Calendar of Events
- Election records
- Grant records
- Intergovernmental Agreements
- Park District Brochures
- Resolutions
- Board Meeting minutes
- Tax Levy
- Salary information
- Letters received by the District
- Personnel policies
- Board meeting packets
- Listing of Parks and Facilities
- Master Plan
- Agreements and Leases
- Building and facility usage
- Certificates of Insurance
- Facility Rental fee schedule
- Independent Contractor agreements
- Material Safety data sheets
- Prevailing wage
I. Description of the Public Body (5 ILCS 140/4(a))
Purpose
The Belvidere Park District exists to provide high-quality parks, facilities, and recreational programs that enhance the health, wellness, and quality of life for residents of Belvidere, Boone County, and surrounding communities. The District serves individuals of all ages and abilities through diverse recreational, conservation, and community-based initiatives.
Organizational Structure (Functional Subdivisions)
Administration
- Executive Director
- Finance and Human Resources
- Marketing and Communications
- Registration and Customer Service
Parks and Facilities
- Parks Maintenance
- Facility Operations (including Rivers Edge Recreation Center and Riverside Ice Arena)
- Capital Projects and Planning
Recreation Services
- Athletics
- Programs
- Rentals
- Afterschool Child Care
- Summer Camp
- Special Recreation (including Club Horizon and Special Olympics programming)
Operating Budget
The District’s general operating budget is approximately $6,000,000. The full budget and most recent audit can be found on the District’s website under the “About Us” and “Financial Information” sections.
Offices and Locations
The Belvidere Park District maintains the following primary administrative office:
Administration Office
1006 West Lincoln Avenue
Belvidere, Illinois 61008
Additional facilities operated by the District include parks and recreational sites located throughout Belvidere and Boone County.
Employees
The District employs approximately:
- Full-Time Employees: 25–35
- Part-Time/Seasonal Employees: 50–150 (varies seasonally)
Governing Body
Board of Park Commissioners
The District is governed by an elected Board of Commissioners responsible for establishing policies, approving budgets, and overseeing District operations.
Current Board Structure:
- President
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Commissioner
The District operates in accordance with Illinois Park District Code and applicable state laws and is accountable to its Board of Park Commissioners.
II. Requesting Public Records (5 ILCS 140/4(b))
Methods for Requesting Information
Members of the public may request records from the Belvidere Park District under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by submitting a written request. Requests may be submitted via:
- In person by completing a FOIA request form available at the District’s Administration Office
Requests should include a description of the records sought to facilitate an efficient response.
FOIA Officer(s)
The District has designated the following FOIA Officer(s):
- Executive Director or designee
Belvidere Park District
Submission Address for FOIA Requests
Belvidere Park District
Attn: FOIA Officer
1006 West Lincoln Avenue
Belvidere, IL 61008
Email: jjacky@belviderepark.org
Fees
Fees for copies of public records are assessed in accordance with Section 6 of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/6)
- Standard black and white copies: first 50 pages free, additional pages charged at statutory rates
- Electronic records, when available, may be provided at no cost
- Additional fees may apply for certified copies or voluminous requests as permitted by law
III. Posting Requirement Notice
In accordance with Public Act 104-438, the Belvidere Park District fulfills its obligation to prominently display this information on its official website. Physical posting at administrative offices is not required as the District maintains a website.