Who We Are
SEASPAR is recognized as a special recreation association by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and is an extension of the services of its twelve member entities. It is governed by a Board of Directors which represents each of these members.
We are committed to our mission of enriching people’s lives through recreation. Our vision is to enable our participants to discover abilities, achieve potential, and realize dreams. We operate with the core values of fun, friendships, caring, trust, and accountability.
Special Recreation Association
SEASPAR is a very unique type of agency, a special recreation association (SRA). Illinois is the only state which has legislation that:
- enables two or more park districts or municipalities to join together to “establish, maintain, and manage recreation programs” for people with disabilities; and
- grants the park districts and municipalities in such a joint agreement the ability to levy a special tax in order to fund such programs.
An organization is recognized as a special recreation association if:
- it consists of two or more park districts which have entered into a joint agreement with one another, and/or recreation boards and the corporate authorities of cities, villages, and incorporated towns;
- it has a written agreement among the cooperating agencies;
- residents of member agencies are equally eligible to participate; and
- it has a board of directors made up of representatives of the member entities to govern the association.
Each special recreation association is unique in that it is responsible to meet the needs of its residents and works under the direction of its own Board of Directors. As a result, the programs offered by each SRA may be very different than those offered by SRAs serving another area with its own unique needs and expectations.
SEASPAR Staff
SEASPAR staff members are dedicated to providing excellent programs and services. Most of our professional staff are Certified Park and Recreation Professionals and/or Certified Therapeutic Recreation Professionals. Our part-time staff and volunteers receive ongoing training to maintain our high standard of program delivery.
What We Do
Programs and Services
SEASPAR offers a wide variety of therapeutic recreation programs and services for all ages and all disabilities. These include weekly programs, special events, day camps, Special Olympics training, adapted sports, multi-sensory rooms, cooperative programs, inclusion services, and much more. Visit the Program Information page for details.
Benefits of Special Recreation
Participation in SEASPAR’s programs and services has countless benefits, including but not limited to:
- Improved physical and emotional health
- Increased self-esteem and opportunities for self-expression
- Enhanced independence
- Social skill and relationship development
- Cognitive and fine/gross motor skill development
- Integration into the community
Agency Recognition
SEASPAR is proud to have received the following recognition:
- Distinguished Accreditation from the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA)
- National Gold Medal for Programming Excellence for Special Populations
- Outstanding Program Awards from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association
- Outstanding Special Event Award from the Therapeutic Recreation Section of IPRA
- Agency Excellence Award from the Therapeutic Recreation Section of IPRA
- Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
- Chamber Choice Award from the Downers Grove Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Exceptional Workplace Awards from the Health and Wellness Committee of IPRA
- Agency Showcase Awards from IPRA: Social Media Campaign (First Place), Brochure – Virtual (First Place), Print Communication – Informational (First Place)
Agency Goals
SEASPAR staff develop annual goals to further develop our programs and services. View our goals for 2023 and 2024.Clicking this link will open a PDF document..
In 2022, SEASPAR developed a Strategic Plan through 2025. View the plan.Clicking this link will open a PDF document.
Risk Management
SEASPAR is committed to the safety of our participants and staff, and maintains membership with the Park District Risk Management Agency, which evaluates the risk management program of the agency on a regular basis.
Who We Serve
Participant Disabilities
SEASPAR provides programs and services for individuals of all ages with disabilities that include:
- Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder/Sensory Processing Disorder
- Behavior Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Developmental Delay
- Disabled Veterans
- Down Syndrome
- Intellectual Disability
- Learning Disability
- Mental Health Needs
- Pervasive Developmental Delay
- Physical Disability
- Visual Impairment
- Youth at Risk
- Other Disabilities
Service Area
Our service area includes the park districts of Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lemont, Lisle, Westmont, and Woodridge, and the villages of Brookfield, Indian Head Park, and Western Springs. Anyone residing in those incorporated entities may participate in our programs. Residents of the Village of Willowbrook may also participate in programming in 2024. Residents of unincorporated areas may also participate in our programs at a non-resident fee. Individuals served by the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association may also participate in SEASPAR programs. Visit the Resident/Non-Resident Policy page for more information.
Joining SEASPAR
Do you think SEASPAR might be a good fit for you or your loved one? Check out our New Participant Guide to get started!
