Batavia Park District goes in-house for new director

The Batavia park board has promoted the district’s marketing director to executive director.

Allison Niemela, who has been interim director since February, got the job at a special park board meeting Thursday night.

She takes over for Mike Clark, who quit to take a job in Palatine.

“The board is really humbled by the fact that the community has provided so much input on what they want to see from their park district,” said board President Pat Callahan, speaking of its new master plan, in a prepared statement. “Residents see opportunities for improvement, and we believe Allison has the skill sets to implement that through our strategic master plan.”

Twenty-nine people applied for the position.

Niemela has been with the district since 2000, when she became its first marketing and public relations director. She worked on intergovernmental agreements and development of a strategic master plan, and led efforts to get community input about the future of Harold Hall Quarry Beach.

She is chairman-elect of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.

“I feel this is an opportunity to give back to the park district that has given me so much. I look forward to serving the residents of Batavia as the executive director so I may learn, share and lend my professional talents,” she said in a prepared statement.

The appointment takes effect Saturday. The board will ratify her contract Sept. 18.