Ronald Greenberg: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Ronald Greenberg

City: Mundelein

Office sought: Park District Commissioner

Age: 74

Family: Wife Karen; adult children: Brian and Melissa and two grandchildren

Occupation: Retired from Parks and Recreation management

Education: Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Recreation Administration

Civic involvement: Member of the Mundelein Park District Recreation Advisory Committee, Commissioner on the Mundelein Fire and Police Commission. Former Member of the Hoffman Estates Fire Department Pension Board, Former Member of the Hoffman Estates Celebrations Commission

Previous elected offices held: Hoffman Estates Park District Commissioner, 8 years.

Incumbent? No. If yes, when were you first elected? N/A

Website: N/A

Facebook: N/A

Twitter: N/A

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your Park district and how do you intend to address them?

There are several issues facing the park district including communication with our residents. While the park district has an overall excellent image in the community, many residents aren't aware of what is going on in or being offered by the park district. We need to find new and creative ways to get the district's message out. We also need to explore new methods of improving two way communication with our residents. We need to encourage more of them to get involved. This could possibly be accomplished through the development of additional committees that have residents, staff and commissioner involvement that can work on both short and long range planning. Finally, the park district does not have an excess of available funds. One of my goals will be to help the park district continue to remain fiscally responsible and viable while operating under the present financial constraints.

If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board?

I have two college degrees in Recreation Administration and over 35 years experience in managing Park and Recreation programs and facilities. My goal is to bring some of the insight and expertise that I developed while working in parks and recreation, to the board level as a commissioner. One of my main priorities will be to challenge the park districts staff to continue being creative and imaginative in their development and improvement of recreation programs for all members of the community regardless of age. Additionally I will work towards helping the park district continue to remain fiscally responsible and viable and to continue to improve our communications with our residents.

Which programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?

Park Districts often offer some programs that don't pay for themselves. Usually they are programs which service special populations or groups or startup programs designed to explore new initiatives. These programs are monitored closely and modified when necessary to accomplish the desired goal or discontinued after a predetermined time period. As long as these programs don't put an undo strain on other programs or the financial position of the district they are acceptable.

Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.

The Park District currently meets or exceeds the national standards for open space and facilities. The district has several undeveloped or underdeveloped parcels that are addressed in the long range plan. The Park District does and should continue to pursue grants, when available, to help fund the improvement of these sites. When and if new housing developments come on line, the district needs to monitor them and work with developers in order to provide new parks to service these areas.

Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them?

The district seems to be keeping up with current trends in recreation programs. When elected I will encourage staff to continue being creative and imaginative in developing programs for all members of our community regardless of their age.