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Park Board President’s Message

Glenview Park District

Address:		1930 Prairie Street Glenview, IL 60025 (847) 657-3215
Phone:

Winter 2008

Dear Neighbor:

This past summer we held a ceremony to rededicate one of Glenview’s most cherished parks: Crowley Park, named after Catherine Crowley, one of Glenview’s most devoted and inspirational Board members. Catherine was a fascinating woman who had a pilot’s license, raised ten children, was a long-time school teacher, was the first woman to serve on the park district board and was a tireless advocate for the environment and our parks. We see Catherine’s work every day in and around Glenview including acquisition of The Grove, and Wagner Farm as well as building Park Center. Sadly, Catherine passed away in 2005, but, the legacy she left with us is still crystal clear in the minds of those who knew her and the programs and park district facilities she helped create.

Of her many great qualities, the one I remember most was her view that the park district was a place to be cared for, preserved, and most importantly a place for residents to have fun.

What a fun summer we had at the park district this year! The outdoor pool season kicked-off with free ice cream given away at Roosevelt on opening day. We broke ground on a new phase of development for Community Park West including the new dog park scheduled to open in the first half of 2009. The
4th annual 3v3 soccer fest brought in over 115 teams from around the Midwest to Attea Fields. The Glenview Park Golf Club opened its new outdoor Gazebo Grill and hosted its Friday Night Live outdoor concert series out on the patio with a great line-up of an Elvis impersonator, blues band, and a Reggae band. In July, we introduced a new children’s concert series “Little Bearfoot in the Park.” Wagner Farm hosted its award winning Dairy Breakfast for the 7th consecutive year. A new playground was constructed at Glen Grove School and construction is in the planning stages for two more new playgrounds at Pleasant Ridge and Willowbrook Schools. Over 2500 campers participated in park district camps and approximately 500 new employees, mostly Glenview high school and college students, were hired for the summer to help run our diverse programs and events. We launched our new web site and National 9 hosted the Bank of America Charities Golf Week events providing free green fees to the general public. Thousands of area residents came together on the 4th of July to celebrate our nation’s birthday at the annual parade and spectacular fireworks show.

As the long hot summers days turn to the crisp cool air of fall the Glenview Park District has even more fun-filled events in store including the Wagner Farm Barnyard Dance, Bonfire and Corn Harvest events, The Grove Folk Fest & Craft Faire, Spooktacular Halloween event at Park Center, and the Glenview Park Golf Club Golftoberfest. On September 2, the Glenview Ice Center will reopen after a summer of major renovations with newer, brighter, updated interiors and amenities, and upgraded environmental friendly and energy-efficient systems. Also in September, the Senior Center will wrap up its year-long 50th anniversary celebration with a gala event for both the Center and its Director Joyce Pottinger.

As you plan your schedule for this fall, I encourage you to take a look at the special events on pages 6-7 of our Fall edition of The Guide, mailed to residents on July 26. You can also find a calendar of events here on our Glenview Park District web site www.glenviewparks.org.

What a great summer we have had and what a fabulous fall we have planned. I am sure that Catherine Crowley would be proud!!!!

Have a wonderful fall and I will see you at the parks!!!!!

Best wishes,

Mary Jean Coulson