There will be two (2) Berwyn Park District commissioner positions on the ballot for the April 6, 2027 Consolidated Election.
Park Commissioners serve a term of six years without compensation. They meet on the first Tuesday of each month at the Freedom Park Administration Office at 4:30pm, and the third Tuesday of each month at the Proksa Park Activity Center at 6:00pm. Meeting Schedules are posted on the website at https://www.berwynparks.org/board-and-committee-meetings. Additional meetings are scheduled as needed.
Candidates seeking election as a Berwyn Park District Commissioner can pick up an information packet at the Freedom Park Administration office, 3701 Scoville Avenue, Berwyn, during normal business hours. Candidates may begin circulating petitions on or after August 25, 2026. The candidates will file their completed documentation, petition sheets, receipts, at the Freedom Park Administration office, 3701 Scoville Avenue, Berwyn, starting Monday, November 16, 2026 beginning at 9am. The last day to turn in completed documentation, petition sheets, receipts is November 23, 2026 by 5pm. Office hours on November 16-19 are 9am-4pm. Office hours on November 20 are 9am-noon. The office is closed on Saturday and Sunday. The office hours on November 23 are 9am-5pm.
Candidates who seek office are urged to consult with an attorney on specific questions they might have. Information is also available online at www.elections.il.gov or by calling the State Board of Elections at 217-782-4141. The Berwyn Park District is unable to provide legal advice to candidates.
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From IAPD (Illinois Association of Park District)
SERVING ON A PARK DISTRICT BOARD
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
SO YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD...
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Board Obligations
By Peter Murphy, President and CEO
Illinois Association of Park Districts
If you are appointed or elected to the park board, you will become a leader who has accepted a major civic responsibility. You should be willing to make a commitment to give freely of your time and talents to help strengthen and further the park, recreation and conservation mission of your community. As a board member, you will take on the responsibility for helping to set goals, formulate policies and establish services that will meet the present and future needs of the citizens of your district. The success of
your agency depends to a great degree on how well you understand your role and how effectively you address your responsibilities as a board member.More than 2,100 citizens serve on Illinois park district, forest preserve and recreation boards. Effective board members are respected citizens, well known and active in community affairs and interested in the total recreational needs of their communities.Serving without compensation, locally elected commissioners represent their fellow citizens and interpret their views. They have the primary responsibility of spending tax monies, fees and donations designated for park and recreation services. They spend, and spend wisely, millions of dollars every year.
Board Obligations
As a board member, it is important that you commit to the “big picture” and the long-term effects of the decisions you make. You should use sound judgment by weighing the pros and cons of each issue, be open to new ideas, and make ethical decisions. In
addition, it helps to have the capacity to “take the heat” when unpopular, but necessary, decisions are made.
Board Members:
- Adopt policies that allow the organization to run efficiently, effectively, legally and ethically.
- Request, receive, evaluate and make decisions based on well researched guidance from the executive.
- Interpret the agency’s mission, values and vision to the public.
- Monitor operational and capital finances.
- Hire, fire, supervise, evaluate and support the executive.
- Establish policies after consideration of pros and cons of each issue.
- Help set a strategic direction that adopts goals relating to the vision and mission of the organization.
- Act as a resource, a sounding board and as the eyes and ears of the citizens of the community, making sure that the agency is meeting their needs.
- Develop, maintain and update long-range plans.
- Adopt and adhere to a code of ethics.
The Illinois Association of Park Districts publishes books, provides training and assists board members in their desire to serve the public.
Effective board members:
- Have an attitude of cooperation, openmindedness and objectivity.
- Are motivated only by a desire to serve the citizens and the agency.
- Work with the executive, not over or around him or her.
- Inspire the community’s confidence, respect and support.
- Spend time in board meetings on strategic planning, policies and procedures, not on operational details that are the executive’s responsibility.
- Make no disparaging remarks about the agency, other board members or their
opinions. - Keep high ethical standards.
- Display a talent for working well with others.
- Do not promise voting outcomes prior to learning the facts of any issue.
- Do not make decisions until all sides of an issue have been presented.
- Support board decisions even when a decision conflicts with personal views (recognizing the authority rest with the board, not with one board member).
The Election Process
Park district boards in Illinois are comprised of five or seven members called commissioners or trustees. To be eligible to serve as an elected commissioner or trustee, you must live in the district for at least one year prior to election day. Terms are for six years,
but the board or the community can elect to change terms to four years. In general, two seats are up for election in the spring of each odd-numbered year.
Briefly, the steps to being elected are:
- In the fall of an even-numbered year, pick up a statement of economic interest and candidate petitions at your park district office.
- Gather signatures of eligible voters so that your name may be placed on the ballot. You must obtain 25 valid signatures or percent of the number of ballots cast for commissioner or trustee in the last election, whichever number is greater.
- File the nominating petitions and a statement of candidacy with the park district secretary between 113 and 106 days prior to election day (usually in late December of an even-numbered year).
- File a statement of economic interests with your county clerk (and a receipt with the park district secretary) on or before the final day for filing petitions.
- Choose whether to file with the appropriate official clerk an optional loyalty oath and a voluntary statement of compliance with the Fair Campaign Practices Act.
- File campaign finance disclosure forms with the State Board of Elections, if you raise or spend a prescribed amount on
your campaign.
For specific details, contact your park district’s executive director, board secretary or county clerk. Or, check the State Board of Elections’ website at elections.il.gov
Online Training for Current and Future Board Members
The Illinois Association of Park Districts has a number of resources that are available to you as a candidate and as an elected board member.
These resources include such important publications as The Park District Code, the Handbook on Illinois Park District Law, the IAPD Guide to Illinois Sunshine Laws, including the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.
In addition, the IAPD helps board members understand the financial procedures of Illinois park districts with such publications as the Illinois Park District Financial Procedures and the Guide to Employment Laws.
We encourage you to visit our website at ILparks.org after your election to investigate and to take advantage of the plethora of member resources that are available to you as you build your understanding of the park district system in Illinois.
As a newly elected board member, you will be receiving the Illinois Parks and Recreation magazine which contains timely information on trends and governance issues. The IAPD also has robust educational offerings for new and seasoned board members alike and you are encouraged to participate in these throughout the year.
To find out more about IAPD’s online resources
or other IAPD educational services, contact:
Peter Murphy, J.D., CAE
President and CEO
Illinois Association of Park Districts
211 East Monroe Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
ph: 217-523-4554 |email: pmurphy@ILparks.org
ILparks.org
