Elfstrom resigns from Batavia park board

Batavia Parks Commissioner Phil Elfstrom has resigned his post since he moved out of the Batavia Park District.

Elfstrom, 80, moved last week into an apartment at The Holmstad retirement center at Route 31 and Fabyan Parkway. While it is in the City of Batavia, it is located in the Geneva Park District.

"I did not realize it wasn't in the district" when making his plans, Elfstrom said. A single man, he said he had long planned to eventually move from his River Street home into The Holmstad. Health problems, including recent surgery on his hips, convinced him it was time to move. Elfstrom missed almost every park board meeting this year, including the one during which the board decided to ask voters for permission to build a recreation center and revamp Quarry Beach.

Elfstrom's term expires in 2011. The park board can appoint someone to serve from now until April, then someone could be elected to fill out the remainder of the term.

Elfstrom served on the Kane County Board from 1969 to 1992, including 11 years as chairman and eight years as president of the forest preserve district (county board members serve as forest district commissioners). Elfstrom Stadium, where the Kane County Cougars baseball team plays, is named after him.