The Collinsville Area Recreation District was established on November 13, 1990. It is governed by a board of five elected commissioners, serving six-year terms of office, without compensation, pursuant to the provisions of the Park District Code, Illinois Compiled Statutes, 70 ILCS 1205, 1992.

The Collinsville Area Recreation District is a municipal corporation created by state authority for the purpose of acquiring, maintaining and operating the parks and activities therein. It is separate and distinct from the city, village, county, or any other political body. It is an agency through which in part the people of the State carry on government.

A park district is purely a creation of the legislature, and has no inherent powers, but only such powers as have been granted it by the legislature, or as are necessarily implied to give effect to the powers specifically granted.

The local Park Board not only accepts mandatory State Law, but also determines the degree of acceptance of permissive legislation. It makes its own rules within the framework of its delegated powers and is subject only to the will of the people and the state park district authority as provided by law. It is empowered to exercise all the delegated authority it deems essential to be a successful operation of the parks and recreation program.

The Park Board of the Collinsville Area Recreation District is considered the local legislative body to which is entrusted by law, the responsibility for planning, executing, and appraising the District park and recreation program. It is the duty of the Board to approve, by majority vote, basic policy for the operation, control, improvement and planning, future and present, of park and recreation facilities within the District.

The Park District's Administrative and Recreation Offices are located at 10 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, Illinois, in the Activity Center of the Splash City Family Waterpark site. The Park District's Maintence Building is located on 1345 Pleasant Ridge Road in Pleasant Ridge Park.

For questions or suggestions, please e-mail frontdeskcard@collinsvillerec.com; call 618.346.7529, fax 618.346.7530, or even write c/o CARD, 10 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234.

Park Board Meetings

The Collinsville Area Recreation District is a separate municipal governing agency established for the purpose of providing and maintaining park land, facilities and recreation programs for the community. The Park District is governed by five elected Commissioners who set policy for the operation of the district without remuneration. Regular public meetings of the Board of Commissioners are held at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Administrative Office, 10 Gateway Drive.