Lindenhurst park chief retiring after 23 years

What is now the centerpiece of the Lindenhurst Park District may have seemed a far-fetched possibility when Tom Lippert joined the fledging operation as executive director.

Engle Memorial Park on Grass Lake Road spanned 52 acres, but had little else in 1992 when Lippert arrived in wide open northern Lake County from densely populated Niles.

"All that was out in front was a little wooden sign and picnic table," recalls Lippert, who has seen more than a few projects come to fruition since.

Twenty-three years later, Engle park is home to the district's 26,000-square-foot community center, which houses district offices, a gym with a three-lane walking/running track above, multi-purpose rooms, a bandshell, in-line skating/skateboard/BMX track, a soccer field, picnic area and more,

There is a third phase of expansion on the drawing board, but Lippert won't be the one to cut the ribbon if or when the time comes. Having reached his targeted retirement age of 60, Lippert on May 15 will leave the park district he helped shape.

That will be "Tom Lippert Day" in Lindenhurst as proclaimed by the village board in honor of his role in building the district from essentially a few open fields with little equipment and no facilities to one featuring 19 parks and various amenities serving a population of about 15,000.

The board recently honored Lippert as a "community leader in the planning and development of the Lindenhurst community as many of us know and enjoy today." The proclamation listed the community center, Grass Lake Road underpass, Millennium Park, haunted trail and several other milestones during his tenure.

The park district was created by referendum in 1988. By the time Lippert arrived four years later, the office was still one room at the village hall with a staff of two.

"I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into," he said.

Lippert began building relationships and looking for ways to improve the system. He secured more than $7 million grants from various sources, including local state legislators. Lippert also has parlayed millions in impact fees from local developers to complete notable projects. He cited the support of the parks board, community and cooperation of various agencies as key to the district's success.

He said he's most proud of the community center, which allowed the district to build an identity and take control of its programming. The office building opened first, and was followed in 2002 by the gym and other features.

"We did it without a referendum, under a tax cap and we have a very small assessed valuation," Lippert noted.

Making connections between neighborhoods, schools, forest preserves, parks and other destinations is part of a continuing plan. The Grass Lake Road pedestrian tunnel, for example, is a partnership between the Lake County Forest Preserve District, village and Lake Villa Township that connects the McDonald Woods Forest Preserve with the planned Oak Ridge Park.

Dave Mohr Jr., who has been with the district 11 years and serves as the superintendent of recreation, has been selected by the park board to take over for Lippert.