2024 Risk Management Grant and Recognition Winners Chosen

Safety smarts, keen observational skills and initiative were the trifecta that earned Risk Management Grant and Recognition awards for 2024 for 16 members. 

Since 2003, we have offered a grant program to our Property/Casualty members. The Risk Management Grant and Recognition Program helps members fund, implement and/or recognize innovative and cost-effective safety projects or programs. Agencies can submit applications to PDRMA throughout the year, with a final submission deadline in September. Our Risk Management Committee may award multiple grants in increments of $250 with a minimum award of $250 to a maximum of $2,500 with a $20,000 annual budget in 2025. To date, PDRMA has awarded tens of thousands of dollars to members for their creative risk management ideas.

“This year’s winners addressed safety or risk management issues that other PDRMA members may also face,” says Tim Lenac, PDRMA Risk Management Services Supervisor. “These 16 agencies took a second look at their safety ‘challenge’ and came up with a solution. There might be a grant-winning idea hiding in plain sight at one of your facilities, too. If you can solve a problem — or prevent one from happening — submit your idea to compete for a $250-to-$2,500 grant in 2025!”

MEET THE WINNERS
Bensenville Park District — $1,500
Double Gates, Double Safety!
After Bensenville Park District purchased Fischer Farm in 2022, they increased the variety and quantities of livestock on-site and youth programming and teenage seasonal staff. They purchased a double gate system to prevent animals escaping when someone opens a single gate.  

Elk Grove Park District — $500
Meta Quest 2 for Lifeguard Training
The agency purchased Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headsets to help improve lifeguard scanning skills and overall vigilance through feedback. Now supervisors can track and analyze lifeguard safety behaviors, and lifeguards can participate in drills that mimic a real pool with swimmers.

Elmhurst Park District — $500
Motorized Stair Climbing Hand Truck
The pool at Elmhurst Park District is on the lower level of their facility, so they bought a motorized stair climbing hand truck that allows staff to move pool chemicals safely downstairs to a storage area eliminating having to carry heavy and clumsy buckets and bags of pool chemicals by hand.   

Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) — $1,000
Portable Hydration Station
FVSRA’s special events and athletics programs do not always have access to water and electricity. This easy-to-setup portable water and cooling station — for outdoor special events/athletic programs/summer camp — makes an on-demand space available to ensure proper hydration and cooling for participants.

Frankfort Square Park District — $1,500
Lockdown for Safety
The agency has early childhood and preschool classes, where staff cares for its youngest participants, ages 2-4, five days/week during the school year. The STI Lockdown Button immediately warns staff that a dangerous situation is imminent, enabling employees to take quick, lifesaving actions.

Lombard Park District — $250
Summer PPE Safety Bingo
The agency’s Safety Committee created this Bingo incentive program for seasonal employees at pools, parks, summer camps and the golf course. The grant went toward the cost of Bingo cards covering specific personal protective equipment (PPE) in each department. The cards were distributed to staff at the beginning of the program; each day, staff submits one photo of them demonstrating the use of a PPE item to earn bingo prizes.

Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation — $750
A Small Band for Big Safety
Monitoring high-need participants at big events is extra challenging. Using brightly colored, preprinted wristbands with the agency’s logo and emergency contact information makes it a bit easier. The wristbands identify special medical needs, allergies or other conditions and increase the overall safety of participants especially at large events such as summer camps and field trips.

Mt. Prospect Park District — $1,000
Welding Umbrella Used for Lifeguard Sun Coverage
The Aquatics Department replaced the existing lifeguard umbrellas with Pipeliners Cloud welding umbrellas. Welding umbrellas offer reliable and durable sun protection to lifeguard staff and eliminate the need for frequent replacements throughout the season. 

Oak Brook Park District — $500
Automatic Scrubbers
The agency purchased automatic scrubbers for custodial and maintenance staff. These scrubbers reduce the physical strain on staff by allowing them to clean shower walls, floors and bathrooms without repetitive movements that often lead to injury.

Prospect Heights Park District — $2,500
"Erectastep" Rooftop Stair Project
The agency now has a portable, lightweight, OSHA-compliant staircase on its recreation center roof. Staff has a safer, more accessible way to access the roof for day-to-day tasks, inspections, troubleshooting, repairs and maintenance.

Schaumburg Park District — $1,250
EZ Cutter for Golf Courses
The EZ Cutter allows groundskeepers to be more efficient while creating a safer ergonomic job task for cup cutting on the golf course.

Wauconda Park District — $250
NIGHTLOCK Door Security Devices Door Barricade Devices
These door security devices create a barricade on agency doors that do not securely lock in the event of an active threat in the building.

Waukegan Park District — $250
Bench Cart for Injury Prevention
A hydraulic cart helps install benches that weigh 200+ pounds. The cart has wheels that roll on various terrains (shop floor, trailer ramp, park turf) and goes low enough to fit under a bench to lift it.

Wheaton Park District — $250
Kayak/Canoe Safe Transportation Project
The agency uses canoes approximately 100 days each year, with more than 1,000 participants enjoying canoeing activities. The kayak/canoe transportation cart reduces the risk of damage and employee injury when handling and transporting the equipment.

Winfield Park District — $2,000
Mighty Muscles to Move the Mound
Often, only one or two employees are available to move pitching mounds. Purchasing this light, two-piece mound prevents staff injury with a safer, more ergonomic solution for the job task.

Zion Park District — $1,000
Building Temperature Sensors
Temperature sensors in the agency’s building alarm systems function as an early warning system, notifying staff when a building’s temperature is too high or too low. This allows the agency to address problems before pipes burst, buildings flood or furnaces stop working.

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