Fox Valley Park District basks in glow of National Gold Medal Award

Olympic gold medal winners are a shining symbol of great success.

Basking in the glory of national pride atop the winners' stand - medallion sparkling and anthem playing - their historic accomplishment is one for the ages that is shared and celebrated.

Truly special moments like those are the culmination of a life's work, the crowning confirmation of achievement.

Reaching the ultimate pinnacle can be every bit as challenging and rewarding in other pursuits, too, as the Fox Valley Park District euphorically discovered last week in - of all places - Salt Lake City, site of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

When the envelope was opened and the announcement read, Academy Awards-style, amid a packed but breathlessly quiet convention hall, the reaction was understandably ecstatic.

Fox Valley had just been voted the country's top park district by the National Park and Recreation Association among park districts serving populations between 100,000 and 250,000 residents.

To put the honor in perspective, more than 220 U.S. cities fall into that population class. Only one park and recreation agency from that crowd wears this year's Gold Medal - yours.

It's a huge medal, too; big enough to be worn by all the residents of Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery. That's as it should be, for this is a shared honor earned by each of these communities through their unwavering commitment to parks and recreation.

"Absolutely, we're all in this together," said Executive Director Steve Messerli. "Winning the Gold Medal is a reflection on all our residents and their continual dedication to helping us provide a high quality of life in our communities through their support and commitment to parks, recreation, open space and regional trails."

As in any relationship, trust and communication form the core to a solid foundation. Fox Valley has continually sought out input and feedback from residents to gauge the attitudes, needs and desires of the people it serves. It's an open, two-way street at all times for all parties involved.

And while listening is one of life's most useful skills, Fox Valley takes it even further. By listening and hearing what our residents say - and acting upon their valuable insights - Fox Valley and its constituency work as a team for the common good, which ultimately benefits all of us in the long run.

The results to this point have been as good as gold.

Through public meetings, open houses and neighborhood pulse-taking, Fox Valley worked hand-in-hand to address the community's desire for more fitness and recreation opportunities year-round.

The Vaughan Athletic Center was the result of that teamwork - a fabulous, state-of-the-industry athletic complex that has drawn national acclaim and welcomed more than one million visitors since its grand opening in 2005.

In 2008, residents made it clear that open spaces, regional trails and Fox River shoreline areas were extremely important to their quality of life. The Park District listened, heard and acted.

Since implementation of the Open Space, Park and Recreation Investment plan, Fox Valley has secured more than 75 new acres of open space - including cherished riverside green spaces and island parks up and down the Fox River. In addition, 18 of the District's 151 parks have undergone major improvements, and the District's 38 miles of trails have been expanded and upgraded.

It's the gold standard that residents and park district staff, collectively as one, have come to expect. As we join together in celebration, the radiant gold that glitters from the medal stand is a testament to our communities and the teamwork that carried all of us to the top.

Congratulations to all 200,000 of us - and thanks for achieving this rare feat. You've helped win the most prestigious national honor in the parks and recreation profession. Wear your gold medal proudly!

• Jeff Long is the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District. Contact him at jlong@fvpd.net