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2—Focus News—Tues.,Marc h 23,1993
<br /> He 'sgota reen thumbg withparks.
<br /> trden Hills'
<br /> Buckley r V
<br /> retire
<br /> s after
<br /> 1 a,..
<br /> 20 years '
<br /> ERIN MANGAN
<br /> After 20 years on the job,John
<br /> Buckley can be sure he left his
<br /> mark in Arden 11iILs.
<br /> Buckley helped plait and nurture '
<br /> the city's park system as locals
<br /> now know iL .
<br /> Buckley.Arden}fills'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 Ifills' ?
<br /> now extensive parks and Imils sys-
<br /> tem and in observing residents' use
<br /> and care for the parks and recre-
<br /> ation programs.
<br /> " as been a thrill just watching '"`
<br /> t velopment of the programs Arden Hills Parks and Recreation Director John Buckley retired recent) but ruaypholo by Paul e his
<br /> an parks,'Buckley said. love of outdoor recreation by developing parks for the Peace Corps. y' he may continue his
<br /> Buckley,the city's first parks
<br /> and recreation director,guided
<br /> parks and recreation programs "With all the green and open space we have lit All die programs"have done an
<br /> through a time of enormous awful lot for adding and creasing a
<br /> growth in the city. the park system, ill 20-25 years when all the high quality of living in Arden
<br /> As the community developed available space is pressured into developing, Ifills. Recreation provides oppor-
<br /> and the ulalion grew from (unities for a person to escape the
<br /> r'°p g Arden Hills will be a real green space for the stress of the workday and for youth
<br /> S,Soo to develop 1 had the leper whole metro area. People will value and
<br /> tunny to develop the naturd envi- p and adults to loam new or improve
<br /> ronment within the corrununity," cherish the oppOrtlllllty Of going oil/ their )jack old skills,"Bucklcy said.
<br /> he said. "1 sce the need to explore new
<br /> Buckley began by creating a door or down the block to appreciate the avenues of interest always growing
<br /> master plan for the city which natural areas within their community." and developing,"he said.
<br /> emphasized the creation of a 'Ihe recreation program"will
<br /> neighborhood park system. —John Buckley always have a strong emphasis on
<br /> In 1973,Arden I tills had only I 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. 'I'May,there arc 13 looking out for like parks and trails Arden I[ills bean offcrin aduls programs for women,girls and the
<br /> parks,two nature preserves and nhtin out what needs repair. softball leagues or residents and entire family and,lilt the need Iihr
<br /> (� g ) p g special interest activities,he said.
<br /> five miles of trails 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. T11e citythen added basketball
<br /> areas—jungle gyms,ball fields— Bucklcy has left residents with softball,and ice ball leagues or in those recrealon programs grow
<br /> and assive arem—so g tipad and choose to stay in the city as
<br /> p 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 ro
<br /> The trails are also very important "With all the green and open grans, p "Being in the-.line
<br /> community
<br /> because the public does make use space we have in the park system, "We have found that softball or for the last 20 years, it has been fun
<br /> them,he said. in 20-25 years when all the avail- tee ball is a familyaffair,mom and Watching the kids who have partic-
<br /> ascinating to see all kinds able space is pressured into devel- dad,brothers and isters and rand- heated in programs become
<br /> of a on the trails,older peo- oping,Arden}tills will be a real parents are out there watching the healthy,productive adults active in
<br /> pie,families pulling a wagon or green space for We whole metro children play,"he said. g committees and anxious to give
<br /> pushing a buggy,younger children area People will value and cherish With an"emphasis on artici a- back something to Uhe communi-
<br /> roller skating and biking,joggers, the opportunity of going out their tion rather than on winning p ty,"he said.
<br /> serious walkers,"and people just back door or down the block to stronggroup of volunteer g rent)a) Buckley plans to continue to
<br /> lookingfor some g p Pa give back to the community during
<br /> 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-
<br /> to make sure the parks were clean. As the nnnntalinn an+..,....r A— -'-- _- . lie is looking at possibly ioininL7
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