HR1032

LRB096 21636 GRL 39022 r





  
1

HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3
Representatives are pleased to congratulate Mike Rylko on the 
4
occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Buffalo 
5
Grove Park District; and
  
 
6
    WHEREAS, Mike Rylko attended Eastern Illinois University 
7
from 1969 to 1973, when he earned his bachelor's degree in 
8
recreation administration; he earned his master's degree in 
9
Public Administration from Northern Illinois University in 
10
1988; and
  
 
11
    WHEREAS, Mike Rylko has had a long and distinguished career  
12
in park administration since May of 1973; prior to his service 
13
as Executive Director of the Buffalo Grove Park District, he 
14
served as Director of Parks and Recreation at the Streamwood 
15
Park District for 8 years; he also served as Superintendent of 
16
Recreation in Streamwood and Buffalo Grove; and
  
 
17
    WHEREAS, Mike Rylko has served as the Executive Director of 
18
the Buffalo Grove Park District for the past 26 years; during 
19
his tenure as Executive Director, the District has grown from a 
20
120-acre area with 10 park sites to a 419-acre area with 50 
21
sites;  the District's staff has  also grown from 11 employees to 
22
54 full-time employees and over 750 part-time and seasonal 
 


 






HR1032
- 2 -
LRB096 21636 GRL 39022 r




1
staff that serve a population of over 44,500; and
  
 
2
    WHEREAS, As Executive Director, Mike Rylko oversaw  the 
3
construction and operation of a 78,000-foot Fitness Center and 
4
a Golf and Sports Center; he was responsible for the 
5
acquisition of over 106 acres of land and over $5 million in 
6
park development and bikeway grants; he was also responsible 
7
for the purchase and renovation of a school building, the 
8
renovation and expansion of the Raupp Memorial Museum, and the 
9
renovation of an indoor and outdoor pool, and the construction 
10
of a Spray 'N Play water park; and
 
11
    WHEREAS, Under Mike Rylko's direction, the Buffalo Grove 
12
Park District earned Distinguished Park and Recreation Agency 
13
status in 1996, 2002, and 2008 and was a National Park and 
14
Recreation Gold Medal Finalist in 2009; and
 
15
    WHEREAS, Mike Rylko has been an active member of the 
16
Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the National Park 
17
and Recreation Association for over 37 years; he served as 
18
President of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association in 
19
1997; and
 
20
    WHEREAS, Mike Rylko has been the recipient of numerous 
21
awards and accolades during his career, including the IPRA 1994 
22
Professional of the Year Award, the President's Award of 
 


 






HR1032
- 3 -
LRB096 21636 GRL 39022 r




1
Outstanding Service in 1983, 1994, and 2000, and the IPRA 
2
Robert Artz Distinguished Service Award in 1999; he was honored 
3
as Rotarian of the Year in 1991 and 2004; he also received the 
4
Bill Reid Community Service Award in 2007; and
 
5
    WHEREAS, Of his many accomplishments, Mike Rylko is most 
6
proud of the Bill Reid Community Service Award, the Robert Artz 
7
Distinguished Service Award, and the development of Willow 
8
Stream Park; and
 
9
    WHEREAS, Mike Rylko serves as a model of hard work, 
10
integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
11
Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
12
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
14
congratulate Mike Rylko on the occasion of his retirement and 
15
wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it 
16
further
  
 
17
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18
presented to Mike Rylko as a symbol of our esteem and respect.