PARK DISTRICT INFORMATION
Park District Description
The Wilmette Park District is a special district of local government with its own financial and legal responsibilities, established in 1908 for the purpose of providing park and recreational opportunities to residents of the Wilmette community and public at large. It is governed by seven elected Park Commissioners, who serve four-year terms.
The Wilmette Park District is an autonomous governmental agency, responsible directly to the people through the election and referendum process. The District receives its operating authority from the Illinois Park District Code, (Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 105, Sections 1 – 13). Through the Code, the Park District is empowered to levy taxes within specified limits, acquire and develop parks, build and operate recreation facilities, and conduct recreation programs.
Wilmette Park District Organization
Board of Park Commissioners
The Park Board is made up of seven (7) elected commissioners who serve four (4) year terms. It is the responsibility of the Park Board to acquire, develop, maintain and protect park and recreation areas in Wilmette. This is accomplished by the development of policies and ordinances which govern the operation of the Park District and by the adoption of an operating budget. The Park Board meets on the second Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Wilmette Village Administration Building, 1200 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette, and the Board meets as a Committee of the Whole on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Mallinckrodt Center, 1041A Ridge Road, Wilmette. The Park Board employs an Executive Director to carry out the policies of the Board.
Board of Park Commissioners
- President: Kara Kosloskus
- Vice President: Patrick Duffy
- Commissioner: Cecilia Clarke
- Commissioner: Allison Frazier
- Commissioner: Julia Goebel
- Commissioner: Patrick Lahey
- Commissioner: Michael Murdock
- Park District Executive Director/Board Secretary: Steve Wilson
- Board Treasurer: Sheila Foy
Park District Staff
The Park District employs approximately 70 full-time employees, and an estimated 425 part-time staff and 700 seasonal staff. Full-time employees are those working 40 hours per week year-round in a position designated as Full-Time by the Board of Park Commissioners. Click here to download a PDF of the Park District’s organization chart (COMING SOON)
Executive Director
The Executive Director is the chief executive officer in charge of the Park District and its personnel. The Director is responsible for the administration of a comprehensive recreation program for the entire community, and for the administrative management of public parks, playgrounds, and other recreation facilities. The Director serves as technical advisor and consultant to the Park District Board of Commissioners and administers the policies established by that authority.
The Director has executive responsibility for the recreation, parks and business functions through the efficient administration of each. The Director serves as Secretary to the Board of Commissioners and supervises the District’s department heads and the Communications Manager.
Additional Staff:
The Superintendent of District Operations is under the supervision of the Executive Director. The Superintendent District Operations directly supervises the Marketing Communications team, Human Resources/Risk Manager and Sustainability Coordinator. This is a new position as of May 2023; an overview of responsibilities will post soon.
The Superintendent of Finance, under the supervision of the Director, coordinates all accounting and financial functions. The Superintendent of Finance directly supervises the office and accounting staff which handles program registration, payroll, cash disbursements, budgeting and financial analysis. The Superintendent of Finance also oversees all personnel matters as well as the development and use of the District’s computer systems.
The Superintendent of Parks and Planning, under the supervision of the Director, is responsible for the implementation of a comprehensive maintenance and park development program, and the design, construction and maintenance of recreation and park areas and facilities. The Superintendent of Parks and Planning directs the work of employees engaged in the construction, landscaping, and maintenance of recreation and park areas and facilities, and in the maintenance and repair of equipment. The Superintendent of Parks and Planning oversees construction projects in facilities and the park system.
Facility Locations
- Administration Office
Phone Number
- Centennial Recreation Complex
Located at
Phone Number
- Community Recreation Center
Located at
Phone Number
- Gillson Park - Lakeview Center
Located at
Phone Number
- The Mallinckrodt Center
Located at
Phone Number
- Wilmette Golf Club
Located at
Phone Number
- Wilmette Platform Tennis Club
Located at
3551 Lake Avenue
Phone Number
(847) 920-3678
Park Locations and Acreage
Park Name, Location and Number of Acres
- Avoca Park, Iroquois west of Romona Road, 8.0
- Bateman Park, Sheridan Road and Michigan Avenue, .5
- Centennial Park, 2300 Old Glenview Road, 16.5
- Community Playfield, 702 Locust Road, 39.0
- Earlywine Park, 14th St. & Wilmette Ave., .7
- Forest Park, Forest & 18th Street, .5
- Gillson Park, Washington & Michigan Avenues, 59.2
- Green Bay Bike Trail, Shorewood Park to
- Wilmette/Kenilworth border, 1.3
- Hibbard Park, Glenview Road & Skokie Blvd., 8.3
- Howard Park, Ridge Road south of Lake Ave., 8.7
- Keay Nature Learning Center, Hibbard Road & Skokie Blvd., 4.6
- Lockerbie Park, Lockerbie Lane at Frontage Road, 0.3
- Langdon Park, Chestnut & Sheridan Road, 3.4
- Mallinckrodt Park, Ridge Road and Elmwood Avenue, 13.9
- Maple Park, 4th & Maple Avenue, 2.1
- Shorewood Park, Elmwood & Green Bay Road, 1.7
- Thornwood Park, Dartmouth & Thornwood, 8.2
- Vattmann Park, 15th Street & Lake Avenue, 4.1
- West Park, south of Lake, west of Laramie, 7.0
- Wheeler Park, Oakwood and Catalpa, .3
- Wilmette Golf Club, 106.0