[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         GROUNDBREAKING OF CENTURY PARK IN ROMEOVILLE, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 5, 1999

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, amid debates about urban sprawl and 
highway widenings, and conflict over flight patterns and regional 
metropolitan planning authorities--in short, while struggling against 
all the demands that growth makes of us--it is altogether too easy to 
forget the lessons of a public commons.
  Fortunately, it is not always so.
  Later this month, I will have the pleasure to participate in the 
groundbreaking of a wonderful new park in one of the fastest growing 
communities in America.
  Romeoville, Illinois, lies in one of the most vital centers of 
development anywhere. Industry, commerce and families are attracted to 
Romeoville. It is no wonder. The village is minutes away from major 
roadways and yet tightly bound in a spirit of cooperation and 
community.
  Century Park will become the village's first new community park in 25 
years. It will offer baseball and soccer fields, basketball courts, 
paths and playgrounds, picnic shelters and gazeboes, and an educational 
nature center.
  Century Park's nature center will include an educational facility 
that will teach children about the environment. The parks of 
Romeoville, though teach even more. They show how important community 
is to the people of this village.
  Though not a large city, Romeoville supports 17 parks and a large 
recreation center.
  Two years ago, a unique Park Watch program was established. Now, 
working together with the park district, dozens of volunteers--
including many teenagers--give time and money to help make sure their 
public commons remain safe and beautiful. They plant flowers, pick up 
garbage, even help cut the grass.
  Families coming together as a community: That is what the people of 
Romeoville will celebrate--and the lesson they will teach--when they 
join to dig up the first dirt of their new public land.
  I hope you will join me in congratulating the people and community 
ledaers of Romeoville as they break ground on Century Park.

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