Roselle looking for new parks director

The Roselle Park District suddenly has a new project on its hands less than a week after opening a new $5.1 million outdoor pool.

Park board members are expected to meet tonight to discuss how to replace outgoing park district Director Tom Kruse.

Kruse's abrupt departure this week is being characterized as a "mutual parting of the ways," according to one board member.

"Quite frankly, he wanted to do some other things," said Wayne Domke, a commissioner and secretary on the park board.

"All of our major projects are over," Domke said. "The timing is nice in that he didn't leave us high and dry. We've been through this before."

Kruse, a former Naperville Park District commissioner with decades of work experience in parks and recreation, was hired in November 2003 after a string of departures.

In January of that year, Diane McCray resigned to become director of the Streamwood Park District. Later that month, the park district hired a temporary park director who quit after less than a week on the job. The park board hired a temporary director a few weeks later before settling on Kruse.

Domke credited Kruse for shepherding several projects during his four-year tenure, including new dog and skate parks and the new Kemmerling Park and Pool, which opened on Saturday.

The opening marked the first time since 2001 that the Roselle community had been able to swim at Kemmerling Park. The park had a pool from 1970 until 2001 when major structural damage forced the pool to close.

It took three tries before Roselle residents approved a $1.8 million tax increase in 2006 to help revamp the pool and park, which took two years to build.

"The water park was his coup de grace, I would say," Domke said.

Domke said he wasn't aware of Kruse's future plans. Kruse couldn't be reached for comment.

The park district will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Clauss Recreation Center, located at 555 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.