HR0740 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0740 LRB097 19655 KXB 64909 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Richard D. Grodsky on his retirement from the Elmhurst Park District; and

WHEREAS, Richard D. Grodsky has been an advocate for the parks and recreation profession and the residents of the communities he has served for over 30 years, starting his career in 1977; and

WHEREAS, He has spread his mission to improve the quality of life of communities by providing, enhancing, and expanding park and recreation opportunities for all ages; during his career and most recently, at the Elmhurst Park District, he was instrumental in initiating and implementing the following initiatives: he obtained numerous legislative member initiative and Illinois Department of Natural Resources grants totaling over $10 million, working closely with State-elected officials and agencies; he redeveloped multi-million dollar facilities to improve and expand recreational opportunities such as outdoor pools, community centers, fitness centers, historical buildings, golf courses, and concession facilities; and

WHEREAS, He built the Salt Creek Greenway Trail with grants of over $2.2 million dollars; a 30-mile greenway spanning 2 counties and 3.5 miles through Elmhurst; he redeveloped hundreds of parks and playgrounds in communities throughout the Chicagoland area; he negotiated intergovernmental and interagency agreements with colleges, school districts, cultural institutions, and health care organizations and hospitals, which have saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds; and

WHEREAS, He was fiscally responsible by building and restructuring finances through sound fiscal management to ensure that taxpayer funds were responsibly invested back into the community; he purchased over 24 acres of property to increase the Elmhurst Park District's open space and enhance park and recreation opportunities in the community; he served on numerous Boards and Committees including the Illinois Association of Park District's/Illinois Park and Recreation Association Joint Legislative Committee and the University of Illinois Alumni Association Board; and

WHEREAS, He was elected to the American Association of Park and Recreation Administrators; he received accreditation and re-accreditation for the Elmhurst Park District as an Illinois Distinguished Agency by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (1999-2016); and

WHEREAS, During his time with the Elmhurst Park District, the District was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (2007-2011) and Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (2007-10); the Governor's Sustainability Award (2010-11); and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Outstanding Facility Award for 6 facilities; and

WHEREAS, During his time with the Elmhurst Park District, the District was a finalist in the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management (2006-08, 2010-11); he was the recipient of the Illinois Association of Park District's Chairman's Award (2004) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Robert Artz Professional of the Year (2007); therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Richard Grodsky on his retirement and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Richard Grodsky as a symbol of our respect and esteem.