October 25, 2014 – The Woodridge Park District was one of four agencies in the state to be recognized with the Intergovernmental Cooperation Award at the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) Best of the Best Awards Gala held on Friday, October 24 at the Wheeling Park District’s Chevy Chase Country Club.
This award recognizes agencies (park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation, and special recreation agencies and the units of government with which they have an agreement) that have created successful intergovernmental agreements or partnerships that maximize tax dollars and benefit residents throughout the community.
The Woodridge Park District and the Village of Woodridge were recognized for their cooperative efforts to build an Athletic Recreation Center (ARC) that is currently in the architectural and engineering design phase. The partnership between the agencies will result in a $18.7 million development that achieves numerous strategic goals established by both agencies for the overall benefit of improving the quality of life for its residents and business community through recreation without the need of a referendum to seek an additional property tax increase.
This is the second time that the Woodridge Park District and the Village of Woodridge received the Intergovernmental Cooperation Award. The Park District and Village received the award in 2007 for the development of the Woodridge Bikeway System.
“The Woodridge Community is very fortunate to have leaders from their representative governmental agencies that continually work together for the betterment of the community in order to improve the overall quality of lives for our residents. This intergovernmental agreement provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide in a fiscally responsible way an accessible community-based facility that focuses on life-long fitness, health & wellness, sport, athletics, and recreational opportunities for persons of all ages & abilities,” stated Fred Hohnke President for the Woodridge Park District.
Click here to learn more about the ARC.
Illinois Association of Park Districts
Established in 1928, IAPD is a nonprofit service, research and educational organization that serves park districts, forest preserves, conservation, municipal park and recreation, and special recreation agencies throughout Illinois. IAPD’s mission is to advance these agencies in their ability to preserve natural resources and improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois.