Geneva park district doles out thanks, surprises to four

Sam Hill knew something was afoot Sunday when his wife gave him a vague reason for taking the day off work.

But it wasn't until hours later, as he crested a hill at Peck Farm Park in Geneva and saw three smiling grandchildren, that he knew he was in for a treat.

There, surrounded by friends and family from out of town, he was greeted by a new sign welcoming him to Sam Hill Field.

"How else better can you be honored than to have a park facility named after you?" Hill mused with a grin.

Hill was one of four people to have three ball fields named after them Sunday in a surprise ceremony at Peck Farm Park, along Fabyan Parkway and Kaneville Road.

It was an effort to honor "those who have made the Geneva Park District what it is today," said park board President Charles Emma.

The fields were named after George and Erdine Peck, who donated 10 acres and sold 340 more to the park district for Peck Farm Park; John Burns Sr., a former commissioner and longtime volunteer; and Hill, a city alderman, volunteer and past commissioner.

The Pecks, after whom the entire park is named, were unable to attend the ceremony because they were out of the area.

Burns said he attended the ceremony thinking he was going to watch some friends play softball. He was flattered when he found out he was as a guest of honor.

"You don't expect anything," Burns said of his 20-year involvement with the park district. "You're just glad to be a part of it … because you meet a heck of a lot of nice people."

The ball fields previously were identified only as Fields 1, 2 and 3. They now have wood signs behind home plate carrying the new names.

"The numbers never meant much to us," Emma said of the fields' old monikers. "But, of course, these names will always mean a lot."