Naperville parks loves its volunteers

April 15-21 is National Volunteer Week, which coincides this year with Earth Week. From the Naperville Park District’s perspective, it’s a perfect time to say thank you to the volunteers who give of their time to make our parks beautiful.

Last year, a record 1,325 volunteers participated in park maintenance projects at the park district and this spring, hundreds of volunteers already have pitched in to mulch trails, plant prairie seeds, weed, pick up litter, and much more. As the park district works to restore native prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats, there are more opportunities for citizens to get involved in caring for these natural areas.

Thanks to our enthusiastic volunteers, native plants are growing and thriving at Pioneer Park, Frontier Park, Knoch Knolls, University Heights Park, Hobson West Ponds and many other locations.

I also want to thank the volunteers who help with our youth athletic program. Programs such as Naperville Youth Soccer and our new Indoor Soccer and Premier Soccer programs continue to grow and expand, giving more children the opportunity to learn skills and have fun in team sports in a supportive environment. This would not be possible without the 1,000+ dedicated volunteer coaches and assistants who give their time and energy each week.

Finally, I want to thank all of the other volunteers who assist the park district. With your help, we are able to offer free events such as Halloween Happening and Santa House, provide tax assistance for seniors, accomplish special projects, and much more. On behalf of the staff and board, I want to express our appreciation for all that you do to enhance the quality of life for our community.

Ray McGury

Executive director

Naperville Park District