Naperville park district, chamber win honors

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and Naperville Park District both entered rare company this week when they received prestigious accreditations.

The chamber was recognized as one of 75 in the United States to achieve a 5-Star Accreditation ranking, while the park district became just the second in the state to receive national accreditation through the National Recreation and Parks Association.

“What a day for Naperville!” wrote Chamber CEO and President John Schmitt in a memo to members Thursday.

“The 5-Star Accreditation ranking reflects our role as the leading voice of the business community in the Western suburbs,” he wrote. “The chamber will continue to expand our advocacy efforts and improve outcomes.”

About 700 miles away in Atlanta, Ga. park district Executive Director Ray McGury was on hand as the Naperville Park District became only the second in Illinois and the 104th nationally accredited recreation agency.

“We are extremely proud to bring this honor to Naperville,” McGury said. “It’s an affirmation of our high standards and also an encouragement to continue bringing high-quality recreation and parks experiences to our community.”