Bartlett Park District Commissioner Elected Vice-Chairman of Leading Statewide Association for Parks
Lori Palmer, Commissioner of the Bartlett Park District, was recently elected Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Association of Park Districts' (IAPD) Board of Trustees.
As Vice-Chairman, Palmer will assist the association with its mission of advancing Illinois park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies in their ability to preserve natural resources and improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois. She will work with the 19-member board to advise the association in providing service, research, advocacy, public awareness and educational programs to its membership of more than 360 park, recreation and conservation agencies and nearly 100 affiliated business partners.
"Lori has been a great proponent of enhancing the quality of life in Illinois through the services of park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies," said Peter Murphy, IAPD President and Chief Executive Officer. "Her strong leadership skills and enthusiasm are great assets that will benefit the IAPD's mission of helping Illinois parks, recreation and conservation thrive."
Palmer is Chair of IAPD's Program Committee and is the IAPD Program Chair on the IAPD/Illinois Park and Recreation Association's Joint Conference Committee.
Palmer was elected to the Bartlett Park District board in 1997 and has served two, 2-year terms as President, Vice President and Treasurer. During her time on the board, the park district has grown from 26 parks to 46. She was a member of the park district's strategic planning process and People for Parks - a community group that rallied for the purchase of 38 acres, which now serve as the site of the park district's community center. She has volunteered for numerous park district events including community theater productions, the Apple Blossom Run and several dance recitals. She has served on the National Recreation and Park Association's National Forum and the National Awards Committee. She has been involved with the creation of intergovernmental agreements with the village and school district, and she helped to initiate an agreement with the State of Illinois, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District and the Bartlett Park District for use of space at James "Pate" Philip State Park.
She has been an active member of the community and has volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, soccer coach and religious education teacher. She earned a Master Board Member designation through the Illinois Association of Park Districts' Board Member Development Program.
IAPD was established in 1928 and is the oldest state association for parks, recreation and conservation in America. The association serves more than 2,100 elected park, recreation and forest preserve district board members who govern more than 360 agencies employing 40,000 individuals.
IAPD strives to improve Illinois' quality of life through park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies by establishing grants and other new revenue streams for park land, facilities and services; educating the public about the positive effects parks and recreation have on communities; and meeting the problem of decreasing open space in Illinois.