203 – Salt Smart Certified Workshop for Park District Winter Maintenance Staff

Topic Track: Parks/Natural Resources

Location: Grand Suite 5, East Tower, Gold/Ballroom Level

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Speaker(s): Hanna Miller, Watershed Project Manager, The Conservation Foundation; Jimmy Schmidt, Parks Manager, Streamwood Park District

Salt Smart Certified helps park districts keep visitors safe and lessen the impacts of chlorides, such as rock salt, on our natural and built environments from winter maintenance activities. Park districts play important roles in the quality of life in our communities. Keeping people safe is a priority and can be challenging during and after winter storms. The Salt Smart Certified Workshop and the accompanying Illinois Winter Maintenance Manual were developed to provide winter maintenance staff with the necessary tools to be proactive, provide safe surfaces, and reduce environmental impacts through cost-effective, industry-accepted best practices. The interactive Salt Smart Certified Workshop includes topics such as preseason planning, materials and liquids, key actions to take before, during, and after a storm, and more. The workshop is geared towards park district staff who are responsible for making winter maintenance decisions. Examples will be shared from Illinois park districts that have implemented the recommended best practices successfully. Participating in this workshop and completing the post-workshop evaluation will count towards meeting the requirements for your park district to be Salt Smart Certified.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand why and how chlorides impact the natural and built environment.
• Comprehend the industry-specific terminology and practices that support Salt Smart outcomes in your park district.
• Increase knowledge of resources and support available to park districts.