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.”
Are the Park District and the Village of Skokie two different entities?
The Skokie Park District is a government agency with its own elected board of commissioners and taxing powers. Although the Skokie Park District and the Village of Skokie share roughly the same boundaries, the Village of Skokie and the Skokie Park District are separate government agencies that provide different public services.
Is the Skokie Park District Chartered?
The district was established by local referendum on February 3, 1928 as the Niles Center (now Skokie) Park District, with five elected commissioners.
What is a Park District?
Park districts are somewhat unique to Illinois. They are municipal corporations created for the purpose of acquiring and maintaining parks, and for providing recreational programming. Park Districts are separate and distinct from the city, county or any other political entity. It is an agency through which the people of the state carry on government. This independence from the cities and villages permits better community service.
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.
How is the Park District Governed?
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 Page
State & National 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).