Park District of Oak Park

3 Park District of Oak Park MISSION: In partnership with the community, we enrich lives by providing meaningful experiences through programs, parks and facilities. YOUR PARK DISTRICT BOARD Park Board Members Paul Aeschleman,Vice-President Paul.Aeschleman@pdop.org Jessica Bullock, President Jessica.Bullock@pdop.org David Wick, Commissioner David.Wick@pdop.org Sandy Lentz, Secretary Sandy.Lentz@pdop.org Victor Guarino, Treasurer Victor.Guarino@pdop.org Every once in a while it's really nice to celebrate your success. This is one of those moments. The Park District of Oak Park has achieved three incredible milestones within the last few months and we want to share our accomplishments with you. In the areas of finance, safety and management, we have been recognized by our colleagues as one of the best. PDOP Receives Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency Award The Park District of Oak Park was recognized as an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) at the annual Illinois Parks and Recreation Conference in January 2014. To earn Distinguished Accreditation, the Park District underwent a complex process of application and evaluation by a Joint Accreditation Committee. Upon review of an initial self-evaluation and request for admission in March 2013, the Committee determined the Park District's eligibility for formal evaluation. On evaluation day in late October, the Park District presented extensive information covering all aspects of the agency including general management procedures, finance and business operations, facilities and parks, personnel, recreation services, legal documentation and more. Members of the committee also toured parks and facilities. Upon completion of the evaluation, the Park District was notified in writing it had earned 494 points out of a possible 500 in the review process, an exceptionally high score for a first time applicant. Areas in which the District excelled were budget and volunteer recognition. "This program gives recognition to park and recreation agencies that go above and beyond in dedicating themselves to offering quality programs and services designed to fulfill their community's needs," said Debbie Trueblood, IPRA Executive Director. Financial Reporting Certificate of Achievement The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting was awarded to the Park District in December 2013 by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Earning the Certificate of Achievement represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR. This Certificate of Achievement was awarded to the Park District in its first application attempt. Accreditation in Risk Management In fall 2013, after many years of hard work and commitment to best safety practices, the Park District earned Accreditation in Risk Management from the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA). This is PDRMA's highest award. To achieve Accreditation, two of the Park District's most recent Loss Control Review scores had to average at least 95 percent with neither score being less than 92.5 percent. The Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA) is an intergovernmental risk pool offering self-insured Property/Casualty and health coverage to park districts, special recreation associations, and forest preserve/conservation districts throughout Illinois. Please enjoy the many Park District events and programs that are planned for this spring with you in mind. Sincerely, Jessica Bullock, President Board of Park Commissioners Dear Residents,

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