Park District of Oak Park

4 www.pdop.org 4 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 President Kathleen.Porreca@pdop.org Christopher Wollmuth Secretary Christopher.Wollmuth@pdop.org Jake Worley-Hood Vice President Jake.Worley-Hood@pdop.org Sandy Lentz Commissioner Sandy.Lentz@pdop.org David Wick Treasurer David.Wick@pdop.org Grtings, I am excited to continue serving the Park District of Oak Park in my new role as President of the Board of Park Commissioners. And, I'm thrilled to continue working with my dedicated colleagues who all share the same enthusiasm for advancing the vision, mission, and values of the Park District of Oak Park. I'm proud of our agency and of our employees whose hard work, spirit of innovation, and dedication to our Oak Park residents allowed us to continually adjust to each new phase. We adapted our programs to be Covid-friendly and even created new ones that allowed us to continue to celebrate and recreate. (I know that my grandsons were thrilled to see the Easter Bunny come to us in the PDOP van!). We are honored to announce our status as one of four finalists for the prestigious Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation. is is the highest honor among Park Districts across the country and recognizes the commitment and dedication of our board, staff, and volunteers. We last won this prestigious award in 2015 and are truly honored to be recognized once again for the outstanding work of our staff, volunteers, and community members who each play a vital role in the ability of the Park District to successfully serve the residents of Oak Park. Stay tuned, Gold Medal winners will be announced in September. e last 15 months have required an enormous amount of resilience and flexibility, and we finally see the finish line of a very long, hard race. Speaking of races, the annual Frank Lloyd Wright Races return in person October 17. We're gearing up to welcome runners, walkers, and kids from near and far to the beautiful tree-lined streets of Oak Park. is long-standing, 45-year-old tradition is a community favorite, and we're excited to bring this historic event back to Oak Park. Fall Fest returns to the Oak Park Conservatory and Rehm Park on Sunday, September 26. is family-friendly event brings plenty of fun and games for all to enjoy. Halloween provides the perfect backdrop for special events too. Trunk or Treat and Spooky Skate return to RCRC. Austin Gardens will host our annual Spooky Stroll. And, the ever-popular Fright Night returns to the Conservatory. Winter holiday events return later this year too, including favorites like e Santa Trolley, Candlelight Walk, and Breakfast, Lunch, and Tea with Santa (see page 31). New this year, we're moving Winter Holiday Special Event registration to October 2, in an effort to give folks a bit more time to make their holiday plans. We'll be sure to make plenty of announcements leading up to registration so you don't miss out. As we put the pandemic behind us and forge ahead, we are thrilled to continue providing you the top-notch programs, services, and facilities you have come to expect from the Park District of Oak Park. ank you for your continuing support of the Park District and your trust in us as we made decisions with the health and safety of our participants always at the forefront. Take care and s you in e parks, Kathleen Porreca, President Board of Park Commissioners

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