It was another outstanding weekend for the Plainfield Park District at the Annual Illinois Association of Park Districts/Illinois Park & Recreation Association Soaring to New Heights Conference held January 23-25 at the Chicago Hyatt Regency.
Best Park/Facility Award
The Park District’s Van Horn Woods, which underwent a massive renovation from 2022-2024, won for Best Park/Facility. The renovation was designed by Director of Planning Bob Collins.
Project elements included:
- Replacement of the playground at Van Horn Woods East (special inclusive focus for children on the Autism spectrum)
- Fishing pier improvements
- 9 Hole DiscGolf Course
- Shoreline restoration
- Fitness pods
- Permanent fixtures at the bike park
- Pollinator garden
- Expanded trails throughout
Distinguished Member
Park District Deputy Director Maureen Nugent was honored as the IPRA Distinguished Member for the Administration & Finance Section.
In addition to membership and contributing to the A&F Section over a many number of years, Nugent also served on a five-member committee that worked with the IRPA Finance Staff to provide oversight of the Association’s finances from 2019-2023. She joined Plainfield Park District in 2000 after previously working as the Business Manager at Memorial Park District (1995-2000) in Hillside. She was promoted to Deputy Director at Plainfield in 2019 and currently oversees finance, human resources and information technology.
Agency Showcase
The Agency Showcase highlights the exceptional communications and marketing efforts of park, recreation, and conservation agencies across Illinois. This year, the Plainfield Park District’s marketing team stood out, earning top honors with first-, second-, and third-place finishes in the most competitive event to date. A total of 66 agencies submitted 272 entries.
The department won first place for its Tabletop Display, second place for its Social Media Campaign, and third place for Written Content.
- The award-winning Tabletop Display showcased the District’s “Welcoming Everyone” (WE) platform and core values while featuring entries across eight different categories. Judges evaluated the display based on creativity, design, organization, messaging, “It” factor, and overall cohesiveness.
- The Social Media Campaign captivated audiences with photos of Scout the Fox, who creatively highlighted the District’s classes, programs, parks, and facilities.
- The Written Content entry further reinforced the WE platform’s objectives, featuring flyers and posters that outlined its mission and promoted the free, seasonal WE events.
