The Frankfort Square Park District ("FSPD") is an Illinois organization that acquires funding, performs maintenance on parks, and serves members of the Frankfort Square community with recreation activities. It is located about south of Chicago. The Frankfort Square Park District oversees 27 parks with over 500 acres (2 km2) of parkland. Many of the parks and facilities can be used year-round, including two outdoor ice rinks.
A number of the Frankfort Square Park District parks are located in the vicinity of several local public schools. The local school districts, Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 and Summit Hill School District 161, have designated land and facilities for the park district to use for community participation. This symbiotic relationship allows the park district to offer more classes for the community, while also engaging the school districts’ community involvement.
In 2007, the Frankfort Square Park District won the Gold Medal Award from the National Recreation and Park Association.
The current executive director for the Frankfort Square Park District is Jim Randall.
Services
The Frankfort Square Park District maintains over 500 acres (2 km2) of parkland within the towns of Frankfort and Tinley Park, Illinois. The local school districts allocate land as well as rooms for park district programs to use.
L.A.P. The Lincoln-Way Area Parks (L.A.P.) is a cooperative program at Lincoln-Way East High School that the Frankfort Square, Frankfort, and Mokena Park Districts offer to residents. An agreement was entered into by and between the 3-member districts and the Board of Education of Lincoln-Way High School District 210 in 1994. The agreement grants use of the Lincoln-Way East field house, swimming pool, fitness center, and gymnasium for the educational, recreational, and social purposes for park district residents and the Lincoln-Way High School community. L.A.P. will cease operations in August, 2008, and the Frankfort Square Park District will be granted exclusive use of the new Lincoln-Way North High School campus for a variety of park district programming, similar to the current L.A.P offerings.
SSSRA
The Frankfort Square Park District has been a member of the South Suburban Special Recreation Association (SSSRA) since 1989. The FSPD donated park property and was involved in the entire construction process from the initial planning stages through the completion of SSSRA's administrative offices and ongoing maintenance issues. FSPD's Executive Director drafted an agreement with ten member districts to complete the sale of alternate bonds in the amount of US$750,000.
Illinois State Representative, Kevin McCarthy additionally secured a US$500,000 State Line Item Grant for office construction. SSSRA's new home, completed in 2003, has given the association greater stability and visibility within the community as well has allowed for more programming to better serve residents.
Square Links Golf Course
In 2002, the Frankfort Square Park District purchased a 9-hole golf course located about two miles (3 km) from the park districts administration building. Square Links is a , par 32 golf course. It features a driving range, an 18-hole natural grass putting course, practice sand bunker, and a practice chipping area. The park district also offers private and group golf lessons.
Athletic Leagues
Throughout the year, the Frankfort Square Park District offers community members the opportunity to participate in various athletic leagues. Kids can join teams playing indoor soccer and basketball throughout the winter. In the warmer months, leagues of baseball, softball, and outdoor soccer use many of the park district's playing fields. Classes in gymnastics are also offered at the Lincoln-Way East High School gymnasium for beginner and intermediate participants. Additionally, karate and dance classes are also offered. Adults can join athletic leagues of softball and bean bag tournaments.
Scholarships
The Frankfort Square Park District has offered scholarships to graduating high school seniors seeking a four-year college education since 2007. The College Scholarship Golf Tournament played at Square Links Golf Course helps to fund the scholarship fund. In the inaugural year, five students were awarded US$1,000 scholarships.