Des Plaines park district names inside candidate as new director

After a yearlong search, the Des Plaines Park District Board this week selected a new executive director to eventually replace John Hecker, who is retiring in June 2014 after a 36-year career in parks and recreation.

The park board appointed Don Miletic, the superintendent of business and golf operations, to the newly-created post of assistant executive director.

A district spokesman said Thursday he could not divulge how many people applied for the job, saying the interviews were conducted by the park board in closed session meetings for which the minutes have not yet been released.

Miletic has been with the park district since August 2001. He assumes his new role immediately, while continuing with his current responsibilities. He will work closely with Hecker over the next year to ensure a smooth transition, district officials said in a news release.

The assistant executive director post is fairly common among park districts statewide, according to the release.

“The park board has taken a proactive approach to the succession process, which is clearly in the best interest of the district,” park board President Joe Weber said. “We're confident that this will provide the district with the consistently fine leadership we have all come to expect.”

In the coming weeks and months, Miletic will be divvying up his duties as superintendent of business and golf operations to current and new staff.

“I'm excited to have the opportunity to help craft the future of this great park district,” Miletic said in the release.