New Fox Valley parks leader eyes riverfront open space

Fox Valley Park District's new board president says her main priorities are to preserve open space along the riverfront and continue to care for Aurora's inner-city parks.

Rose Smilgys was elected president to replace Linda Cole, who served in that role for the past two years. Cole will remain on the board.

Smilgys, of Aurora, is the board's lone DuPage representative, appointed by county board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom. She began her term in 1997; it expires in 2009.

The board's other six members are appointed by the Kane County board chairman.

Smilgys will guide the district as it embarks on an ambitious $72 million list of capital improvement projects. Officials may ask voters for a tax increase in 2008.

Those funds also could help officials buy more open space. Leaders have estimated they'll need $15 million for land in coming years.

"The things that's closest to my heart... is trying to obtain as much property along the Fox River as possible," she said.

Developing new parks in growing areas, while continuing to care for Aurora's inner-city parks, is another goal, she said. Greene Field Park on the city's west side, for example, is undergoing a $1 million renovation.

The district has grown tremendously since it was founded 60 years ago, she said, and it's now serving people with diverse needs.

Smilgys, who is married with three grown children, retired this year from her job as a library media specialist at Builta Elementary School in Indian Prairie Unit District 204.

She served on the school board for six years before being appointed to the park board.

"I'm happy to be president," she said. "And I felt I had the time to do the job."