Coach: Johns' vision led to Glenview Park District growth

When Richard Johns started at the Glenview Park District back in 1956, the park district's brochure came out only once a year and was basically just a 4-page pamphlet. A front cover, back cover and a couple pages describing a few parks and maybe a couple of organized activities.

That was pretty much it.

Fast forward about a half century: The Glenview Park District brochure is now published four times a year and updated each season, with the current summer issue alone checking in at a whopping 156 pages!

This multicolored recreation encyclopedia includes just about every imaginable program, from dozens of summer camps to more yoga, spinning and Pilates classes than one could ever possibly take. A quantum leap from the days of yore.

This current brochure is just another shining example of how the Glenview Park District has risen from such small beginnings to now being one of the largest and most respected districts in Illinois, if not nationally, and winning awards for such on a semiregular basis.

It has been a long, winding and very successful journey, but it grew and gained its excellence under the guidance Richard Johns.

If the last name is familiar to Glenview residents it is probably because they have played and recreated at Johns Park, which is located on Central Avenue, between Harlem and Shermer roads. It is home to OLPH Football, sand volleyball courts, a basketball court with lights, fields used by Glenview Youth baseball and lacrosse and soccer programs, as well unlimited amounts of free play and team practices.

It has an outdoor skating rink and sled hill in the winter, and don't forget a full set of tennis courts on the west end.

It is clearly one of the biggest and most actively used of Glenview's parks.

A fitting tribute to Dick Johns for sure. But how many in Glenview, outside of the "old timers," know about the man for whom it was named?

Dick Johns was a legend. An Illinois Park District icon. A hall of famer if there was a hall for recreation greats.

Johns' long journey into Glenview began back in 1956. The Indiana University grad spent some brief moments post college working in South Haven, Michigan, and in Laporte, Indiana, before taking a chance and making the big move to Glenview to direct the then very small Glenview Park District (population of the town in 1956 was 13,000).

Note that back when he first started, the park district was a bare bones operation. Pretty much just him and one maintenance man on the full-time staff list. A mere pittance of the multilayered operation currently existing.

But Dick Johns, even as a young man still not far removed from his college days, saw and envisioned greater things ahead for this growing community. He not only "saw it," but as time would prove, he had the intelligence, vision and proactive skills to make it happen.

Under his solid leadership, the park district rapidly started acquiring additional parks and adding more programs. The vision really took hold with the addition of new facilities.

A tennis center, a second swimming pool (Flick Park), a new ice center, greenhouses, and The Grove Nature Center were just some of the major acquisitions and improvements under Johns' long tenure. The explosion of softball leagues and the soccer programs were just two of many that thrived under his leadership.

He also was instrumental, along with School District 34's then superintendent Bill Attea, in forming a landmark agreement between the two agencies that allowed both to save money and manpower by letting the park district take care of the maintenance of the school's outdoor grounds, while conversely allowing the park district to use school facilities such as gymnasiums for their sports programs.

Both were done at no cost to the other. A perfect win-win agreement that was groundbreaking in its uniqueness and still exists today.

Johns gained such stature that he was twice elected as the Illinois Park District Association president, won the outstanding leadership award in 1983, while the district itself earned Gold Medal status in both 1970 and 1976.

Interestingly, he did it all with a unique management style. Serious, professional, organized, poised, thoughtful and proactive. He was not what you would call warm and fuzzy. If you were the type who needed constant positive reinforcement, you might not thrive under his leadership.

There was always an interesting contrast with the man most called " Mr. Johns." Side note: If you worked for him, you didn't call him Richard, or Rich or Dick. He was "Mr. Johns," and the moniker came naturally because he had that kind of aura - commanding respect without demanding respect.

But the contrast was thus: He was a shrewd purveyor of talent and hired people who almost always thrived in their jobs. He did so by letting them do their work and not micromanaging, allowing each to find their own way and make their own mistakes.

Despite this freedom, he, and he alone, wanted to be responsible when talking to the public or running board meetings.

Famously, Dick Johns would not let staff members attend board meetings - unheard of policy back then, and even now. He wanted to answer any inquires, complaints, suggestions etc. that were brought to the board from the general public strictly by himself.

It was a controversial and unique position to take, but it worked for him and forced him to be up on all things happening with his staff and his programs.

His knowledge and experience became much coveted over the years. He would give talks and visit with graduate students at various universities, wrote many feasibility studies for other park districts, and was a valued consultant to local park boards.

But, most of all, he was dedicated to Glenview and its beautiful parks and wonderful recreation programs.

Ex-public relations director for the district Joan Arden might have put it best when she wrote at Mr. Johns' retirement: "As you look through this brochure, remember that all the beautiful resources, the facilities, the opportunities for your recreational enrichment are the results of Richard E. Johns' dedicated service."

Mr. Johns finally retired in 1990, serving 34 years as the superintendent of parks for Glenview. He moved with his wife Barbara to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Sadly, he did not get to enjoy his well-earned retirement for very long, as he passed away at the age of 68.

With his long lineage of outstanding service to the community, and building one of the truly outstanding park districts in the country, the naming of one of our best and biggest parks in his honor, it seems, was the least that we could do.

Author note: Previously known as Elm Park for many years, the park was officially renamed to Richard E. Johns Park back in 1990 upon his retirement.

• Jon Cohn of Glenview is a coach, retired PE teacher, sports official and prep sports fan. To contact him with comments or story ideas, email jcsportsandtees@aol.com.