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- Destinations
Recreation Destinations
Parks
- Program Guide
- Programs
Age-Based Interests
- Schedules
- Register
PERFORMANCE
The Park District works to continuously address the needs of the community and improve the quality of services, parks, and facilities without relying solely on taxes to support these efforts. Â The following charts measure the Park District’s efforts in maximizing alternative funding, efficiently aligning resources, and managing funds and debt in a sustainable manner.
Non-Tax Revenue includes the percent of revenue collected by the Park District that does not come from the local tax levy, such as program revenue, fees and charges, sponsorships and donations, intergovernmental revenue (including grants), rental income, other miscellaneous revenue (including non-resident fees, vending machine revenue, rebates, etc.), and other financing sources (including debt service proceeds and transfers). The Park District’s goal of collecting at least 50% of revenue from non-tax sources has been achieved annually over recent years. Hover over the chart for more detail.Â
*Data for this chart is updated annually from results from the Park District’s annual audit.
Who are the stakeholders impacted?
Program participants and staff
What does the data say?
The Park District’s overall goal is to be above 50%, which has been achieved annually since 2020. The dip in 2020 can be explained by effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.Â
What is causing the data trend?
Growth in all programs along with grants and donations.
What outcome are we trying to achieve?
To be financially strong.
Fund Balances are a ratio of total fund assets to total fund expenditures. The Government Finance Officers Association recommends 25% as a minimum fund balance target because it is a healthy balance between having enough cash in reserves to handle operations without putting an undue tax burden on the community. The Park District strives to keep fund balances between 25-30%, except for the Museum Fund, which is a hybrid fund that the Park District works to maintain at 75-80%.
*Data for this chart is updated annually in April from results from the Park District’s annual audit. Data from 2025 will be provided at that time.Â
Who are the stakeholders impacted?
Staff and the Community
What does the data say?
The fund balances of the Park District’s 10 funds continue to be strong. Many of the Park District funds are over the fund balance target and the district is increasing its transfers to the capital improvement plan accordingly to stay within policy.
What is causing the data trend?
Fund balance is measured as a percent of expenses. With a constant fund balance amount, if the expenses decrease the percentage will go up. During 2020-2022 the District cut expenses dramatically due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that participation levels have stabilized, the District has resumed normal operations and fund balance transfers to reduce fund balance percentages as recommended in the District’s fund balance policy.
What outcome are we trying to achieve? Optimize return on investment to be financially strong.
Volunteer hours include the total number of volunteer hours reported by Park District supervisors at facilities, special events, citizen committees, and other efforts as well as the amount it would cost the Park District if those volunteers had to be replaced by staff working at minimum wage.
Who are the stakeholders impacted?
Staff, Volunteers, and the Community
What does the data say?
The number of volunteer hours worked at the Park District increased by about 18% from 2024-2025.
What is causing the data trend?
A large improvement in Conservatory, Pleasant Home and Youth Sports volunteer hours.
What outcome are we trying to achieve?
Align resources efficiently to be financially strong.
The Park District defines the measurement as the percent of property tax revenue collected in the current year by the Park District compared to overlapping jurisdictions such as county, village, township, library, school districts, community colleges, and other special districts.
Who are the stakeholders impacted?
Community and staff
What does the data say?
Since 2018 the District’s tax levy has remained consistently under 5% of the total tax burden in the community.Â
What is causing the data trend?
The District strives to optimize other revenue sources such as programming, grants, and donations in order to maintain its financial strength and infrastructure without an over reliance on the tax revenue.
What outcome are we trying to achieve?
Financial Strength.
Community Vision. Community Decision. Your Vote.
Learn more about the Park District of Oak Park bond referendum for an indoor aquatic center at Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex.
