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2—Focus News—Tues.,Marc h 23,1993
<br /> He 's got a green thumb wit
<br /> h parks
<br /> Arden Hills W.
<br /> I-�rlt
<br /> BuckleyLer
<br /> .�
<br /> IN
<br /> °
<br /> retires after
<br /> 20 years
<br /> ggg sr
<br /> ERIN MANGAN / VII
<br /> After 20
<br /> years on the job,John � �,,• ,. �,�.,
<br /> Buckley can be sure he left his
<br /> mark in Arden Hills.
<br /> Buckley helped plant and nurture
<br /> the city's park system as IocaLs
<br /> now know it
<br /> Buckley.Arden Hills'first parks
<br /> and recreation director,retired
<br /> March 12 after two decades of ser-
<br /> vice to the city.
<br /> Throughout his tenure,he took
<br /> delight in creating Arden Hills'
<br /> now extensive parks and trails sys-
<br /> tem and in observing residents'use
<br /> and care for the parks and recre-
<br /> ation programs.
<br /> t�as been a thrill just watching 3M
<br /> velopment of the programs Arden Hills Parks and Recreation Director John Buckle Photo by Paul DeMarchi
<br /> ana Buckle said. J y retired recently,but he may continue his
<br /> P Y love of outdoor recreation by developing parks for the Peace Corps.
<br /> Buckley,the city's fast parks
<br /> and recreation director,guided All the programs"have done an
<br /> parks and recreation programs "With all the green and open space we have in awful lot for adding and creating a
<br /> through a time of enormous the park system, in 20-25 years when all the high quality of living in Arden
<br /> growth in the city. Hills. Recreation provides oppor-
<br /> As the community developed available space is pressured into developing,
<br /> and the population grew from Arden Hills will be a real green space for the tunnies fora person to escape the
<br /> 5,500 to 10,000,"I had the oppor- stress of the workday and for youth
<br /> whole metro area. People will value and and adults to learn new or improve
<br /> tunny to develop the natural envi- p
<br /> ronment within the community," pp y f going old skills,"Buckley said.
<br /> cherish the o orlunit o oin out their back "1 see the need to explore new
<br /> he said. door or down the block to appreciate the avenues of interest always growing
<br /> Buckley began by creating a P g develo rn
<br /> master plan for the city which natural areas within their community." and ,"he said.
<br /> emphasized the creation of a The recreation program"will
<br /> neighborhood park system. —John Buckley always have a strong emphasis on
<br /> In 1973,Arden Hills had only youth."It will continue to provide
<br /> two parks,the land for two others "People call on a weekly basis said, afterschool programs,to develop
<br /> and one trail. Today,there are 13 looking out for the parks and trails Arden Hills began offering adult Programs for women,girls and the
<br /> parks,two nature preserves and (pointingout what needs re g g spire l i ni r and,fill the need for
<br /> ) pair. softball leagues for residents and special interest activities,he said.
<br /> five miles of tails within the city. This has been very helpful. It's employees of the larger companies Buckley has watched some of
<br /> "What we tried to do within our their park,they want to take care of located in the city. the children who once participated
<br /> parks is create both active play it,"he said. The city then added basketball, in those recreation programs grow
<br /> areas—jungle gyms,ball fields— Buckley has left residents with softball,and tee ball leagues for up and choose to stay in the city as
<br /> and passive areas...so people could spaces he believes they will covet boys and girls,summer playground adults.
<br /> enjoy the quiet,"he said. in the future. activities and afterschool pro- "Being in the same community
<br /> The trails are also very important "With all the green and open grams. for the last 20 years,it has been fun
<br /> because the public does make use space we have in the park system, "We have found that softball or watching the kids who have partic-
<br /> the he said. in 20-25 years when all the avail- tee ball is a familyaffair,mom and
<br /> fascinating to see all kinds able space is pressured into devel- heated in programs become
<br /> P P dad,brothers and sisters and grand- healthy,productive adults active in
<br /> of le on the trails,older peo- oping,Arden Hills will be a real parents are out there watching the committees and anxious to give
<br /> ple,families pulling a wagon or green space for the whole metro children play,"he said. back something to-the communi-
<br /> pushing a buggy,younger children area People will value and cherish With an"emphasis on participa- ty,"he said.
<br /> roller skating and biking,joggers, the opportunity of going out their tion rather than on winning(and a) Buckley plans to continue to
<br /> serious walkers,"and people just back door or down the block to strong group of volunteer parent give back to the community during
<br /> looking for some peace,he said. appreciate the natural areas within coaches,(the teams)give parents his retirement.
<br /> "The thing about John is he tried their community,"he said. the opportunity to watch the chil- He is lookine at nnccihly inininn
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