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Park District of Oak Park Awarded Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management

park district board and staff members hold gold medal grand plaque

OAK PARK, IL (September 25, 2025)—For the third time in history, the Park District of Oak Park has been named the best in the nation for park and recreation management. The District received the Grand Plaque in the 2025 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the highest honor in the field on September 17 at the National Recreation and Parks Association’s national conference in Orlando, FL.

The Gold Medal Award, presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recognizes public park and recreation agencies and state park systems across the United States that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation. Agencies are judged on their vision, innovation, environmental stewardship, programming, and commitment to serving residents. Each year, only one agency is selected as the national winner in each population category.

“This award is a true testament to the vision and dedication of our entire community,” said Kassie Porrecca, President of the Park District Board of Commissioners. “Our residents, staff, volunteers, and fellow commissioners have all played a role in achieving this honor. Winning the Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management affirms that Oak Park is not only a wonderful place to live but also a national leader creating parks and programs that enrich the lives of our residents every day.”

Agencies across the country undergo a rigorous review and are judged on their management expertise to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of community members, staff members, and elected officials. In March, the Park District was named as one of only four Finalists in Class IV, representing communities with populations of 30,001 to 75,000, a remarkable achievement in itself.

Advancing to the Grand Plaque round placed the District among the very best park and recreation agencies in the nation. In the final stage, each Finalist submitted a five-minute video in support of their application, highlighting their story and accomplishments. Additionally, the judges reviewed progress on the Park District’s Comprehensive and Strategic Plans.

A panel of five park and recreation professionals judged all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge of parks and recreation on both the local and national levels.

“We are incredibly honored to be recognized on a national stage for the work we do every day in partnership with our community,” said Jan Arnold, Executive Director of the Park District of Oak Park. “Earning the Gold Medal is the highest honor we could earn and is a reflection of our team’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible recreational opportunities, maintaining beautiful parks, and creating meaningful experiences for all.”

The Park District of Oak Park has a proud history with the Gold Medal Award program. The District earned the Grand Plaque in 1966, the inaugural year of the award, and again in 2015. In addition, the Park District has been recognized as a national Finalist for the past five consecutive years, an accomplishment that demonstrates the District’s sustained excellence and leadership in the field. The District credits its success to the strong support of Oak Park residents, whose participation, feedback, and involvement continue to shape parks, programs, and facilities.

The Park District invites the community to celebrate this national achievement by exploring the parks, programs, and facilities that make Oak Park a great place to live, work, and play.
For more information on the National Gold Medal Award program, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org.

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About Park District of Oak Park: The Park District of Oak Park serves the recreation needs of Oak Park’s 54,000 residents, providing nearly 8,000 programs and special events annually throughout our versatile recreation centers, 18 parks totaling 84 acres, a community recreation center, two outdoor pools, an indoor ice rink, a gymnastic center, the Oak Park Conservatory, Cheney Mansion and Pleasant Home. Since 1912, our high-quality programs and well-maintained parks and facilities have dependably met residents’ diverse leisure, wellness, childcare and other needs and helped enhance quality of life. Learn more at pdop.org.

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Continued Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

andersen park renovation with wood curb forms around a walking path

A Comprehensive and Strategic Master Plan Goal Highlight

Inclusivity, in our parks, programs, and digital spaces, is a core value at the Park District of Oak Park. Because of this commitment, one of the goals outlined in the 2025-2029 Comprehensive and Strategic Master Plan is to ‘Continue Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).’

Compliance is just the starting point. Our true goal is to ensure that every visitor of every ability feels welcome and able to fully enjoy their parks and recreation experience.

The Park District of Oak Park follows an ADA Transition Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide our course as we budget and plan for both major improvements and small, incremental updates. Some updates may appear minor, but they have a big impact on safety and comfort for all.

Accessibility in Action at Austin Gardens and Andersen Park

For example, in Summer 2025, our Properties & Planning team repaired a section of uneven pavers at Austin Gardens. While it may seem like a small change, ADA guidelines specify that surface changes in level cannot exceed one-fourth inch, and gaps cannot exceed one-half inch. This repair not only brings the path back into ADA compliance, but also makes navigating the park easier for strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, and every park goer in between.

At Andersen Park, accessibility upgrades are underway on a larger scale. As of Summer 2025, we are adding an accessible exit ramp from the Center to the patio, widening existing walkways, incorporating accessible playground equipment, and adding new playground surfacing. While traditional mulch technically meets ADA standards, the new playground grass is a significant improvement for wheelchair users.

Looking Ahead

Accessibility isn’t about checking boxes, but about raising the standard across our parks and programs.

To learn more about accessibility at the Park District, visit pdop.org/ada.

Click here to watch a brief video on ADA compliance at the Park District!

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Seasonal Staff Named Everyday Values Champions

marcus cheeks and jan arnold pose with the everyday values champion certificate

The Park District of Oak Park is committed to fostering a work environment where our values aren’t just words on a wall – they are actively demonstrated in our day-to-day work. The Everyday Values Champions program was designed to recognize and celebrate employees who truly embody these values.

Park District employees nominate their peers for this award, citing specific examples of how they carry out one, or several, of our values. From the pool of nominees, one seasonal staff member was named the Everyday Values Champion per value.

The Park District of Oak Park’s values are: community engagement, responsible leadership, integrity, innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity.

Please join us in congratulating the 2025 Seasonal Staff Everyday Values Champions.

Integrity
Sophie Tilotson: For quick and responsible action when a camper got hurt.

Community Engagement
Marcus Cheeks: For energetic effort to engage with every lifeguard.

Innovation
Marion Moyar: For creative use of resources to ensure campers felt cared for.

Responsible Leadership
Salome Henry: For prioritizing safety and setting an excellent example for others.

Inclusivity
Sophia Jozefczyk: For stepping up to lead multilingual participants.

Sustainability
Samara Rabin: For prioritizing sustainability in every work task.

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Ongoing Collaboration with WSSRA

two youth swing at rehm park

A Comprehensive and Strategic Master Plan Goal Highlight

At the Park District of Oak Park (PDOP), our mission is to enrich lives by providing meaningful experiences in partnership with the community, with a special emphasis on inclusivity. One of the most meaningful ways we fulfill that mission is through our long-standing partnership with the West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA).

WSSRA provides recreation opportunities for children through adults with disabilities. Their operating model is unique to Illinois, made possible by special legislation added to park district code in the late 1960s. To access the benefits laid out in this legislation, special recreation associations had to have a collaborative with at least two park districts. That’s where the Park District of Oak Park and the Village of River Forest stepped up in 1976, laying the groundwork for what has grown into a 13-member partnership across the western suburbs of Chicago.

Today, each partner district supports WSSRA through a dedicated tax levy.

PDOP and WSSRA collaborate in three primary ways:

WSSRA Programs at PDOP Facilities

WSSRA hosts dozens of adaptive programs at PDOP parks and facilities. In 2024, 46 programs were held in our parks and facilities. Programs ranged from Boxability, a confidence-building boxing class, to gymnastics, swim team, and ice skating.

Sensory-Friendly PDOP Programs with WSSRA Support

PDOP also partners with WSSRA to host in-house, sensory-friendly community events like Treats with the Bunny, Boo Bash, and Cookies with Santa. WSSRA provides support at these events, including staffing and activities.

Inclusion Training for PDOP Staff

To ensure every participant is met with support and dignity, WSSRA provides comprehensive inclusion training to all PDOP staff. This training empowers our team with the tools, strategies, and understanding needed to deliver successful, equitable, and ultimately fun experiences for everyone.

We’re proud of this decades-long partnership and what it means for residents of all abilities.

Want to learn more? Visit pdop.org/wssra or wssra.net.

Click here to watch a brief video on our partnership!

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Voltpost Deploys First Lamppost Electric Vehicle Charger

ribbon cutting at ridgeland common for new voltpost charger

The lamppost EV charger, deployed in Oak Park, Illinois, will expand access to convenient, affordable charging for the local community.

Oak Park, IL (May 27, 2025)—Voltpost, the lamppost electric vehicle (EV) charging company, today announced the company’s first-ever public deployment of the Voltpost lamppost EV charging platform, located in Oak Park, Illinois. The company partnered with the Park District of Oak Park and ComEd, the region’s utility company, to complete the deployment. The Voltpost charger, located in the Park District of Oak Park, will empower residents with convenient, affordable charging access.

“The deployment of a Voltpost charger in Oak Park will expand EV charging access for the local community and help catalyze the transition to sustainable transportation,” said Voltpost CEO and Co-Founder, Jeffrey Prosserman. “This deployment builds upon our ongoing projects in New York and Michigan, and marks a step forward in our mission to scale the Voltpost platform nationwide. We are grateful to our partners at the Park District of Oak Park and ComEd for collaborating with us to make equitable EV charging infrastructure available for the residents of Oak Park.”

“Ensuring the residents of Oak Park benefit from affordable access to EV charging infrastructure is vital to fulfilling our commitment to serving the needs of our community,” said Kassie Porreca, President of the Park District Board of Commissioners. “We are happy to collaborate with Voltpost and ComEd to provide convenient curbside charging infrastructure that will improve village life.”

Voltpost scales sustainable EV charging by retrofitting lampposts with a modular EV charging platform. The company rapidly and cost-effectively provides curbside and parking lot charging capabilities for public and private customers, including government, real estate developers, universities, parking lot operators, and more.

“As a liaison for 2c2i, an initiative that invests in startups tackling climate change and advancing equity, I’m excited to support Voltpost’s mission to bring sustainable, street-level charging solutions to communities,” said Najwa Abouhassan, Senior Manager Operational Planning, ComEd. “This collaboration represents a meaningful step toward cleaner, more accessible energy infrastructure, and I’m proud to help connect innovation with impact.”

“We’re proud to partner with Voltpost and ComEd to bring Oak Park its first lamppost EV charger,” said Chris Lindgren, Deputy Director of Properties and Planning, Park District of Oak Park. “This deployment supports our sustainability goals while providing residents with easier, more affordable access to clean transportation. It’s an exciting step toward building a healthier, more connected community.”

About Voltpost

Voltpost is the lamppost electric vehicle (EV) charging company decarbonizing mobility by democratizing charging access. The company retrofits lampposts into a modular and upgradable Level 2 EV charging platform powered by a mobile app. This first-of-a-kind platform in the U.S. provides people convenient and affordable charging while reducing the cost, timing and footprint of chargers. Voltpost’s charger design can be installed in minutes, right on an existing public or privately owned lamppost, providing communities with a scalable, equitable solution. To learn more, please visit: https://www.voltpost.com/.