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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Richard D. Grodsky
4on his retirement from the Elmhurst Park District; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Richard D. Grodsky has been an advocate for the
6parks and recreation profession and the residents of the
7communities he has served for over 30 years, starting his
8career in 1977; and
 
9    WHEREAS, He has spread his mission to improve the quality
10of life of communities by providing, enhancing, and expanding
11park and recreation opportunities for all ages; during his
12career and most recently, at the Elmhurst Park District, he was
13instrumental in initiating and implementing the following
14initiatives: he obtained numerous legislative member
15initiative and Illinois Department of Natural Resources grants
16totaling over $10 million, working closely with State-elected
17officials and agencies; he redeveloped multi-million dollar
18facilities to improve and expand recreational opportunities
19such as outdoor pools, community centers, fitness centers,
20historical buildings, golf courses, and concession facilities;
21and
 
22    WHEREAS, He built the Salt Creek Greenway Trail with grants

 

 

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1of over $2.2 million dollars; a 30-mile greenway spanning 2
2counties and 3.5 miles through Elmhurst; he redeveloped
3hundreds of parks and playgrounds in communities throughout the
4Chicagoland area; he negotiated intergovernmental and
5interagency agreements with colleges, school districts,
6cultural institutions, and health care organizations and
7hospitals, which have saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of
8dollars in funds; and
 
9    WHEREAS, He was fiscally responsible by building and
10restructuring finances through sound fiscal management to
11ensure that taxpayer funds were responsibly invested back into
12the community; he purchased over 24 acres of property to
13increase the Elmhurst Park District's open space and enhance
14park and recreation opportunities in the community; he served
15on numerous Boards and Committees including the Illinois
16Association of Park District's/Illinois Park and Recreation
17Association Joint Legislative Committee and the University of
18Illinois Alumni Association Board; and
 
19    WHEREAS, He was elected to the American Association of Park
20and Recreation Administrators; he received accreditation and
21re-accreditation for the Elmhurst Park District as an Illinois
22Distinguished Agency by the Illinois Association of Park
23Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association
24(1999-2016); and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, During his time with the Elmhurst Park District,
2the District was awarded the Government Finance Officers
3Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
4(2007-2011) and Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in
5Financial Reporting (2007-10); the Governor's Sustainability
6Award (2010-11); and the Illinois Park and Recreation
7Association Outstanding Facility Award for 6 facilities; and
 
8    WHEREAS, During his time with the Elmhurst Park District,
9the District was a finalist in the National Gold Medal Award
10for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management (2006-08,
112010-11); he was the recipient of the Illinois Association of
12Park District's Chairman's Award (2004) and the Illinois Park
13and Recreation Association Robert Artz Professional of the Year
14(2007); therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
17we congratulate Richard Grodsky on his retirement and wish him
18continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it
19further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21presented to Richard Grodsky as a symbol of our respect and
22esteem.