Endorsement: Tunnell, Hulting, Matza, Bowe for Park Ridge Park Board

Among the amenities that make Park Ridge a special place are its 22 parks and an array of recreation centers and programs.

The quality park district that manages and operates all of that is overseen by a board of seven elected commissioners.

Four seats on that board are up in the April 6 election, with five strong candidates on the ballot. Whoever wins election will need almost immediately to help the rest of the board review the Oakton Park renovation project and what, after a year of pandemic, remains to be priorities.

John Tunnell is the lone incumbent who is seeking election - Harmony Harrington is running for the city council instead; Robert Leach and Jim O'Donnell will not be back either.

Tunnell is a devoted and well-qualified park commissioner, a local business owner with strong collaborative skills. He clearly knows a lot and cares a lot. He deserves retention, and we offer his candidacy our enthusiastic endorsement.

Four other candidates are running - Robert Bowe, Melissa Hulting, Brian Matz and former park Commissioner Joan Bende.

Hulting and Matz make particularly compelling arguments for their candidacies. We endorse them both.

An environmental scientist, Hulting has a commitment to open space and incorporating the park into sustainability plans.

Matza, a veteran and a business executive, wants to make the park district more inclusive and responsive to residents from diverse backgrounds.

It is hard to choose between Bende and Bowe. They are each a good candidate.

But our endorsement goes to Bowe. His technology background would be an asset to the park board, and we're impressed by his understanding of climate change issues as they relate to the parks.

We regret that we cannot also endorse Bende, who is an energetic and committed candidate. If she does not win, we hope she nonetheless finds ways to stay involved.