Wheeling park board fills vacancy

Vivian Smith is ready to grapple with the issues facing the Wheeling Park District.

On Tuesday, the park board chose Smith, 49, to fill out the term of Paul Philipp, who resigned his seat when he moved out of the district.

Smith, who was chosen unanimously, will serve into 2009.

She is president of Smith Family Construction, a construction and development company that is responsible for, among other things, Prairie Park at Wheeling, a condominium project at 700 N. Wolf Road that includes a waterfall. Smith, a plant enthusiast, said she worked up and installed much of the floral design of the waterfall.

Smith also has been on the board of the Bison Wrestling Club in Wheeling for 11 years. Formed 14 years ago, the youth wrestling program is affiliated with the Wheeling and Buffalo Grove park districts.

"My boys all wrestle; my husband was a wrestler. He's a coach. My oldest son is on a wrestling scholarship at Northwestern (University)," she said.

With five children, ranging in age from 6 to 20, she has had much experience with park district programs.

"Vivian was a surprise entry into the interview process," board President Tom Webber said. "I never thought that she was interested in the park district as far as sitting on the board. When we received her application, I was very pleased. So were the other board members."

Webber said Smith brings experience sitting on boards with clubs, as well as professional and people skills.

Smith said she knew Philipp was retiring. Among the factors in her decision to run was the fact that her youngest is now in school full time, giving her more time.

"It's an exciting time to be on the board," said Smith, who mentioned in particular the planning related to the development of the land recently swapped between the park district and the village.

Among the things she would like to see is a center commingling pre-school and senior programs so seniors and children interact more.