By STEVE EIGHINGER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The Quincy Park District's financial assistance program is running 47 percent ahead of its 2007 pace, and Mike Bruns feels that is no accident.

When the program was revamped 1 1/2 years ago, the hope was to provide more opportunities for low-income people to use district services.

So far, so good.

"We had a scholarship program in place before, but in 2007 we renamed the program and made an effort to get the word out about what benefits were available," said Bruns, director of program services for the Park District. "We have also added more services and programs the assistance can be used toward. All of this has helped reached more people, especially kids, who might not otherwise be able to take advantage of -- or even know about -- all that we offer.

"This program continues to grow, just like we thought it would. And the numbers are going to continue to grow. When we add in the rest of this month's numbers I think you'll see another big jump. More and more people are becoming aware there is financial assistance out there."

Through the second week in June, there had been 244 uses of the various assistance packages. At a similar point in 2007 the number was 178.

Before the program was reorganized, assistance for admission to district pools and Wavering and Indian Mounds parks was the main offering available. Now there is financial assistance available for Batting Cage area activities and other selected programs.

For more information about the financial assistance packages, contact the Park district at (217) 223-7703.

Other Park District spring and summer program usage is down, mostly because of the above-average wet weather, according to Bruns.

Combined daily pool admissions are averaging 211, compared to 228 this time a year ago. Wavering and Indian Mounds have been closed a combined six days due to poor weather. At this time in 2007, there were no closings.

Batting Cage area use is down slightly, from an income of $23,450 through May 2007 to $21,306 through May 2008.

--seighinger@whig.com/221-3377