Park District of Oak Park

57 www.pdop.org 57 Board of Park District Commissioners Regular Park Board Meetings are generally held on the third ursday of each month and the Committee of the Whole (COW) Meetings are generally held on the first ursday of the month. All meetings are held at 7:30P at the John L. Hedges Administrative Center, 218 Madison Street, Oak Park. Public comment is welcome at these meetings. ere is no COW meeting in August. Kathleen Porreca Treasurer Kathleen.Porreca@pdop.org Christopher Wollmuth Secretary Christopher.Wollmuth@pdop.org Jake Worley-Hood Commissioner Jake.Worley-Hood@pdop.org Sandy Lentz President Sandy.Lentz@pdop.org David Wick Vice President David.Wick@pdop.org Dear Residents, First and foremost, the Park District wants to extend our sincere gratitude to all of our program patrons and park visitors for your patience and understanding, as we cancelled programs and closed facilities and playgrounds due to the COVID-19 virus. is has been a difficult time for all, and the Board and staff at the Park District hope that we can help, in some way, with our community's healing through recreation experiences, both virtually and in-person, that will bring a smile to your face and a new spring to your step. Please remember we have a scholarship program for those who may be in need at this time. Our new Childcare Discount Membership is also available for summer camp and Clubhouse registration. We are here for you. Congrats to our Community Service Awardees! e Park District of Oak Park recently awarded Community Service Awards to recognize and appreciate outstanding contributions and unselfish devotion in parks, recreation, and leisure in the state of Illinois. Congratulations to Don Nekrosius, who has been a long-time member of the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory and a dedicated Conservatory volunteer and Nancy Teclaw, from the Senior Citizens' Center of OPRF, who was recognized for the recent merger of the Center with the Park District at Dole Center. Stretching Tax Dollars e Park District of Oak Park was notified in January 2020 by the Office of Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) that our community will receive a $400,000 matching grant for the renovation of Rehm Park and a $192,000 matching grant for land acquisition near Carroll Park. ese funds are part of the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant Program which provides matching dollars for outdoor recreation space projects throughout Illinois. Including these grant funds, the total amount the Park District has received in IDNR grant dollars for 13 park renovation projects since 2006 is nearly $6 million. e Park District will continue to explore grant opportunities and other means to stretch tax dollars to improve our parks and facilities. Take care, See you in the Parks, Sandy Lentz, President Board of Park Commissioners

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