Naperville Park District honors program manager Gary Foiles for 35-plus years of service
The Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners will recognize longtime employee Gary Foiles on March 22 at their 6:30 p.m. meeting at Fort Hill Activity Center, citing his 35-plus years of outstanding service to the district, to the community and to the park and recreation industry. Foiles plans to retire at the end of the month.
Program Manager Gary Foiles joined the park district staff in 1982 as a recreation program supervisor. He has developed and managed countless programs and community events, including "Halloween Happening," "Wonderful World of Wheels," and sports such as softball, baseball, cricket and tennis, to name a few.
His commitment to parks and recreation expanded beyond Naperville, as he served as a park commissioner for the Batavia Park District from 2009-2017 and chaired the National Recreation and Park Association's Certified Park and Recreation Professional Exam Committee. Additionally, he passed the NRPA's Certified Park and Recreation Executive exam in 2014, making him only the 12th individual in Illinois at the time to receive the certification and the 109th professional nationally.
Foiles began his career at the park district just as Naperville's population was about to boom, growing from 40,000 residents in 1980 to 120,000 in 2000. Reflecting on the changes that have occurred in his 35-year career, Foiles recalled that in 1982, the district had only one computer and it was in the business office. "We wrote down phone messages on pink pads and typed memos on IBM Selectric typewriters. Program registration was in-person, with people lining up at the high school early Saturday morning seeking a spot in the most popular programs."
Recalling some of his most satisfying accomplishments at the district, Foiles remembered starting the first "Wonderful World of Wheels" event in the fall of 1998. With a preschool child in his own family, Foiles had the idea to create a Touch-a-Truck event just for young children to give them plenty of time and space to explore vehicles in a safe environment. "Wonderful World of Wheels" continues to be well attended, with annual attendance estimated at over 1,000.
Another successful program initiated by Foiles is the age 40+ Master's Softball League, begun in 1994 and still going strong in 2018.
"We started that first year by offering registration for individuals and had enough players to form 5 or 6 teams," explained Foiles. "We grouped the teams by ZIP code. A couple of those teams are still playing together."
The league continues with registration on a team basis.
Many of the trends in recreation that Foiles has witnessed in recent years are encouraging. "There are many more options in sports for kids in general and for girls," Foiles said. "It's not just the big three - basketball, baseball and football. Now, there are many emerging sports that are catching on in Naperville, including lacrosse, rugby, cricket, field hockey, flag football, pickleball and Ultimate Frisbee. And our tennis offerings have exploded!"
"As the executive director, I'm truly sad to see Gary leave the district for a number of reasons," said Park District Executive Director Ray McGury. "There will certainly be a void felt within the organization as well as the community with Gary's departure. Thirty-five years of experience and knowledge are not easily replaced. The major reason I'm saddened to see Gary leave is he is a great man who was so dedicated to serving the Naperville community. I'm proud to call him my friend and couldn't be happier for him and his family."