Lichtenberger North and South Park
SIZE	15.6 Acres
LOCATION	Laguna Park Drive, Between North of Kilconnell Drive and South of Rancho Laguna Drive (LAGUNA)
PARK FEATURES	Soccer Field Softball Field Youth Baseball Field Jogging/Bike Trail Playground Equipment Shade Structure Picnic Areas Horseshoe Pits Community Garden Barbecue
COMPLETED	1992
BIOGRAPHY	After coming to Elk Grove in 1956, Dick Lichtenberger never stopped being an active and involved member of the community. He participated as Boy Scout leader and chairman of the Boy Scouts' Troop Advisory Committee, was president of the Elk Grove Little League, time keeper for the Elk Grove Swim Team, was very active at Joseph Kerr School as a member of the Band Boosters, co-chairman of the school Parents Club, president of Kerr PTA and chairman of the school advisory committee on Physical Education. He has been active in the Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club, and a lay leader at First Congressional United Church of Christ. The Strauss Festival saw Mr. Lichtenberger serve as Vice President for 4 years, as a fund-raiser and as the community liaison. Dick was part of the original board which brought the Struass Festival from an idea to reality. But the community will remember him most for his role in developing the Senior Center in Elk Grove, for his leadership as Vice President of the Strauss Festival, and for the development of the Home Assistance and Repair Program for Seniors (HARP/S) which brought together both senior service programs and contractors to provide vital assistance to seniors who need work done on their homes. As a part of his involvement with the Sacramento County Commission on Aging, Mr. Lichtenberger was asked by Supervisor Jim Streng to solve a problem many local seniors were having/getting reliable assistance with home repairs. Dick volunteered to chair a committee which came up with a solution known as HARP/S. The program has brought together City, County, seniors organizations and groups such as the Builders Exchange and various trade unions, in a cooperative non-profit arrangement. The HARP/S program provides volunteer contractors who evaluate the home repair problem, suggest a solution, recommend reliable contractors, and in some cases arrange for the work to be done at no charge. In his development of the Senior Center, Dick served in several different capacities, including being the first President. He was also President of the Elk Grove AARP Chapter for 2 years, and an Elk Grove Park Advisory Board Member from 1981 to 1985. According to Barbara Wackford, former CSD Parks Administrator, "Dick was a strong senior advocate, but he also had a vision for the entire community. He was a very active park board member, serving as a volunteer at nearly every event." In 1983, he was selected Elk Grove Citizen of the Year. Mr. Lichtenberger was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where he met his wife of 43 years, Ruth. Mr. Lichtenberger has one son, Jon, and a grandson, Chad. His wife, Ruth, taught Kindergarten at McKee Elementary for many years.
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