The Skokie Park District
...takes pride in its ability to serve the more than 63,000 residents of Skokie, Illinois and its customers throughout Chicagoland. Whether protecting natural resources, preserving historical sites or providing thousands of unique recreational opportunities within its more than 240 acres of parkland, the district has offered a multitude of quality programs since 1928.
In addition to its diverse array of programs and special events, the Skokie Park District also offers summer camps, state-licensed full-day childcare and preschool, and before- and after-school care for grades K-5. The district is a past winner of the “National Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.”
Park Resources
The district is committed to protecting its natural resources and preserving historical sites within its more than 240 acres of parkland. The district maintains 45 parks, including within them — ball diamonds, playgrounds, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and tennis courts, a dog park, picnic areas, soccer fields, two golf facilities, parking lots, shelters and restrooms, and two butterfly gardens. The district also operates and maintains two ice rinks, two outdoor swimming pools, a community center, a cultural center for the arts, a leisure center (including a health club and gymnasium), an outdoor nature center with an interpretive center, the Skokie Heritage Museum, two childcare/preschool centers, a community theater venue, The Exploritorium (a children's indoor play and learning space), and an indoor rowing center.
Programs and Services
In addition to its thousands of unique programs in the areas of the arts, nature, sports and fitness, and specialized programs for tots through seniors, the Skokie Park District also offers more than 80 summer day camps, a nationally-accredited full-day childcare and preschool, and before- and after-school care for grades K-5.
The Park District also offers many seasonal community special events, including the award-winning Skokie Festival of Cultures, Skokie’s Backlot Bash music and street festival, Winter Chilly Fest, a July 4th 3-D Fireworks Festival, the Scream Scene haunted house and many more.
Boundaries
The Skokie Park District is bordered by Evanston to the east, Chicago to the southeast and southwest, Lincolnwood to the south, Niles to the southwest, Morton Grove to the west, Glenview to the northwest, and Wilmette to the north. The district includes nearly all of the Village of Skokie, as well as small portions of Evanston, Morton Grove and Chicago.
Five-Year Comprehensive Master Plan
District staff and Skokie residents recently worked together to identify park district needs and to prioritize action items in a manner consistent with the agency’s Mission, Vision and Values. Click here to view the park district's comprehensive master plan through 2025.
Five-Year Capital Plan
These projects will maintain or improve the district’s infrastructure and may include: 1) the major maintenance, rehabilitation, renovation or new construction of an existing facility or park; and 2) the purchase of major equipment needed for district maintenance.
Click here to view planned park district capital projects.
District Goals
Click here to view goals for recent fiscal years.
History of Skokie Park District
Click here.
National & State Recognition
The District has been recognized four times since 1997 as an "Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency" by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), most recently for the period of 2021-26.
The district is also a past National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Award finalist for its excellence in park and recreation management, in 1979, 1995, 1996 and 1997, winning the Gold Medal Award in 1997.
Memberships
The Skokie Park District is a member agency of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) and the Park District Risk Management Association (PDRMA).
How the Park District is Governed: Board of Commissioners
The five-member Board of Park Commissioners is elected by the residents of Skokie and is responsible for setting policies and procedures that best benefit the Park District and community. The Board appoints the Executive Director, who carries out the policies of the Board and hires a staff. The Board adopts a budget, levies property taxes and is responsible for hiring and evaluating the Executive Director. In addition, the board selects a president and vice president and appoints a secretary, treasurer and attorney. Board members serve as liaisons between various community organizations and committees.
If a resident has a question or concern, it is best to start off by contacting one of our staff members. If, after talking to staff, you still have a question with the way a policy is implemented, you should contact the park district's Executive Director, Michelle Tuft. If at this point you still feel your concern has not been addressed, then you should contact the Board of Park Commissioners. This can be done by contacting an individual board member or by attending a monthly board meeting at the Weber Leisure Center. On every agenda there is time allocated for people to speak before the Board.
See the Board of Park Commissioners Business & Meetings Page
FAQs – Organizational & Financial
Administrative Team & Staff
The five members of the Board of Park Commissioners are elected by the residents of Skokie and are responsible for hiring the executive director, who in turn hires an administrative team, who in turn hire the park district staff.
See the district's current full-time staff list here.
See the district's organizational chart here.
We are ADA Compliant
The Skokie Park District welcomes the participation of all individuals in our programs, including those with disabilities. We are fully committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and providing reasonable accommodations to facilitate participation in our programs.
Inclusion
The sooner we know about your special situation, the more time we have to make reasonable accommodations to improve you or your child's recreational experience. Parents or guardians: please make arrangements for any accommodation at the time of registration, no later than two weeks prior to the start of the program. Notification received less than two weeks prior to the start of the program may result in delayed participation in the program.
Inclusion Inquiries
Breanne Labus, CPRP
9300 Weber Park Place, Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 674 -1500, ext. 3505. Email here.
ADA Plan
Accessible communities benefit everyone, not just its disabled residents. Following accessibility guidelines in public rights-of-way improves access for everyone, thus improving community livability. District staff has updated the following plan to improve accessibility and to address necessary physical improvements identified in its self-evaluation. Click here for the current ADA Plan Update. The park district welcomes public comment on the ADA Plan. Please email ADA Compliance Officer Corrie Guynn to comment.
Skokie Park District ADA Compliance Officer
Corrie Guynn, CPRP
7500 Frontage Rd., Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 674 -1500, ext. 2802. Email here.
Head Injury Education
From the district's Board of Park Commissioners and Administrative Policy & Procedures Manual, Section 2.12:
Proper medical treatment following a sustained head injury by a Park District patron is extremely important. An individual is often disoriented and not necessarily able to make sound decisions regarding their medical treatment after a head injury. As such, and as encouraged by Section 8-24 of the Park District Code, the District will use reasonable efforts to make available to users of District facilities electronically or in written form, concussion and head injury educational materials which may include those produced or distributed by the Illinois High School Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other comparable materials.
Memorialize a Loved One
The Skokie Park District offers several ways to remember or celebrate a friend or loved one, or even to commemorate a birth or celebrate a birthday. Your donation of a tree, a park bench or a brick, will benefit all people who use the parks and will serve as a living reminder of your family or your friend for future generations. Click here to create a legacy today.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer
The Skokie Park District under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. If you believe that you have been subjected to discrimination in any program, activity or facility, or if you desire further information regarding Title IV, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.
For information regarding jobs at the Skokie Park District, click here or contact Stephenie Gualano, Human Resource Manager, at 9300 Weber Park Place, Skokie, IL 60077, at (847) 933-4357 or at sgualano@skokieparks.org.