Athlete and volunteer nominations sought for Northbrook Park District’s Hall of Fame

The Northbrook Park District recognizes extraordinary local athletes and volunteers through its Hall of Fame, and encourages community members to submit their nominations for the next class of inductees by April 30.

“The Hall of Fame is our way of celebrating the people who have shaped Northbrook’s spirit,” Hall of Fame Committee Chairwoman Beverly Kumar said. “It honors residents whose dedication, talent and service have strengthened our community in many ways and inspired generations.”

The park district has two types of recognition, the Sports Hall of Fame and the Volunteer Hall of Fame. Altogether, more than 60 individuals have been inducted across both categories since 1978.

The Sports Hall of Fame recognizes the accomplishments of athletes who either live or lived in Northbrook, or trained at a Northbrook Park District facility for at least three years.

The latest inductees were baseball player Doug Rader and cyclist Dee Dee Scadron in 2024.

Nominees must have participated in a sport at the national, international Olympic or professional levels (junior level competitions do not qualify under national/international).

They also must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Won a National Championship (individual or sport).

• Competed at the World level in any sport.

• Competed in the Olympics in any sport.

• Reached professional status in any sport.

The Volunteer Hall of Fame recognizes volunteers in the community who have given their time and effort to improve the quality of district recreation offerings.

The latest inductees were volunteers Oscar Dahl and Samuel Einhorn in 2024.

Nominees must meet all the following criteria:

• Volunteered with the park district or one of its affiliates significantly for at least five years.

• Served as role models for the community, especially its youth.

• Cannot have received payment for their service.

• Cannot have volunteered only to benefit a family member (for example, only coaching a relative’s team, or only volunteering for a family member’s theater production)

Nominations will be accepted through April 30. They will be reviewed by the park district’s Hall of Fame committee, whose recommendation will be examined by the park district’s board of commissioners. The board then votes to approve the inductees.

“I hope the community embraces this opportunity to shine a light on neighbors who have made a real difference,” Kumar said. “The most meaningful nominations come from those who’ve witnessed these incredible contributions firsthand.”

The inductees will have their name and photo displayed at the Northbrook Sports Center and on the park district’s website. They will also be recognized in person by the board of commissioners.

Nomination forms are available at nbparks.org/halloffame.

For questions, contact Joan Scovic, at jscovic@nbparks.org or (847) 897-6129.

Established in 1927, the mission of the Northbrook Park District is to enhance the community by providing outstanding services, parks and facilities through environmental, social and financial stewardship.