HR0457 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0457 LRB103 34801 LAW 64652 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Paul W. Friedrichs on the occasion of his retirement as executive director of the Lombard Park District; and

WHEREAS, Paul Friedrichs has had a 36-year career in parks and recreation, serving the Lombard Park District for the past 25 years after initially being hired as the director of Finance and Personnel in July 1998; he began serving as executive director in June 2007; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure, Paul Friedrichs has overseen multimillion dollar referendums and renovation projects and obtained multiple grants worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to expand and enhance parks in the Lombard Park District; he has negotiated and executed numerous intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with the Village of Lombard, the Helen Plum Library, and School Districts 44, 45, and 87 to enhance services in Lombard, including the acquisition of library property to expand green space in Lilacia Park, offering a before and after school program, and the sharing of property and facilities for growing school athletic programs; and

WHEREAS, Paul Friedrichs has been noted for his fiscal responsibility and dedication to the community; under his care, several referendums have come to fruition under budget and on time, including the Paradise Bay Water Park and the Madison Meadow Athletic Center; more recently, he expanded access to COVID-19 vaccines, which were made available to 5,000 individuals at the Madison Meadow Athletic Center through partnering with Jewel-Osco in 2021; and

WHEREAS, Under Paul Friedrichs' leadership, Lombard Park District has received several prestigious honors, including being named an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency, receiving the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal Award in 2009, being named a NRPA Gold Medal Finalist from 2017 to 2019, and receiving NRPA CAPRA Accreditation in 2016 and 2021; the district has also been recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), receiving the Certificate in Achievement in Financial Reporting every year since 2000 and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award annually since 2013; and

WHEREAS, For his leadership and commitment, Paul Friedrichs has previously been named an Illinois Park and Recreation Association Professional of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Paul Friedrichs continues to engage the community and work closely with leaders and legislators to advance parks and recreation initiatives; he is a member of the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD)/Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) Joint Legislative Committee, and he serves on the board of trustees for the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association; he has also served on Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA) and IPRA committees throughout his career; and

WHEREAS, Before Paul Friedrichs concludes his service as executive director in December 2023, he will be overseeing the start of the redevelopment plans for Southland Park and assisting in the expansion plans for Lilacia Park, among other duties; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Paul W. Friedrichs on his retirement as executive director of the Lombard Park District, and we thank him for his decades of service to the Lombard Park District, the Village of Lombard, and the parks and recreation profession; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Paul Friedrichs as an expression of our esteem and respect.