Patrick lahey
wilmette park district board
candidate video
responses to voter guide questions
1. Why are you running for park board, what are your qualifications and what term number will it be for you if elected?
Hello, my name is Patrick Lahey, and I am a candidate for Park District Commissioner. I am a Northfield native and Loyola Academy graduate, with a degree in Economics from Amherst College. For the past 23 years, I have worked at WH Trading, a commodity trading company, in both Chicago and London. My wife, Sarah, teaches at New Trier, and we have three children attending three different D39 schools. We have been proud residents of Wilmette for the past decade.
I am running for Commissioner because our Park District is an essential part of the Wilmette community that I hold dear. Like many families with two working parents, we rely on the Park District’s before- and after- school CARE programming to get through the week. On the weekend, we are at nearly every park, sharing moments of waterslides at the Aquatic Center, gymnastics at the Rec Center, ice skating at Centennial, tennis at Vattmann, soccer at Community Playfield, and so many others.
In addition, I am also running for Park District Commissioner to protect our park spaces for future generations. Our parks hold countless personal memories, whether it be swimming at the Gillson shoreline at dawn or taking my dogs for a walk at dusk. As our finest amenities, our parks deserve to be treated with the utmost care and respect
The Park District must strive to better serve the people of Wilmette. The issues facing us don’t have simple solutions and don’t need hurried answers. As Commissioner, I will be deliberate, thoughtful, and transparent in my efforts to balance the programming needs of our community with thoughtful stewardship of our park spaces.
2. What are your priorities for Wilmette Park District (WPD) and how will you work with the board and park district staff to address them?
The strategic and comprehensive plans being produced will guide our Park District for a generation. As a member of a focus group for these projects, I participated in the process directly, and saw firsthand the scope of neighbors’ concerns. It is critical that the Board ensures these plans represent the entire community and that the Park District's long-term intentions are clear.
A more urgent priority is working through the enormous $13.2 million capital budget schedule for 2023 and $7 million budget in 2024. This year’s expenditures include multimillion-dollar projects at several parks and facilities – including Gillson Park, Langdon Beach, and West Park – as well as the addition of pickleball courts.
As Commissioner, I will help the board set the direction of the Park District, establish priorities and goals, and empower staff to achieve those goals. With my professional experience as a partner in a business with international operations and multiple domestic offices, I have the skills to manage complexity and address difficult issues.
3. What is WPD’s role in protecting green spaces and the environment?
WPD should be our community’s leader in environmental policy. The new sustainability coordinator position is a small step towards a greener Park District but much more can be done. I look forward to working with the coordinator to create a WPD sustainability plan to be integrated into our strategic and comprehensive plans.
I believe a high bar should exist for reducing greenspace for amenities, and any trees cut down should be matched with new saplings. We must prioritize the preservation and expansion of our collective green space. I believe WPD should explore all reasonable opportunities to expand our collective green space as well as consider alternative locations for maintenance facilities currently in our parks to free up contiguous green space.
4. How can the board balance the concerns of specific neighborhoods with WPD development and activities?
The Wilmette Park District exists to serve the residents of Wilmette. The Park Board should first acknowledge that significant neighborhood issues have risen to the board level regarding nearly every major park in the past four years, which have led to a decline in trust in our Park District as a neighbor.
Having attended WPD meetings since the fall, I have seen firsthand residents' concerns regarding agendas, communications, public comment, and meeting minutes. There are basic solutions to address these concerns that will provide a foundation for rebuilding trust. Additionally, the Park District should create smaller, neighborhood-focused events that bring WPD staff and board members closer to the community to establish relationships and build trust.
By engaging with residents and incorporating their perspectives into the decision-making process, the Park Board can strike a balance between the concerns of specific neighborhoods and the broader goals of the Park District. Ultimately, this will lead to better outcomes for our community as a whole.
5. Do you see opportunities to align WPD practices with its Statement of Inclusion and, if so, where?
The Park District's mission statement and statement of inclusion are critical guiding principles for the Board. Inclusion is not a standalone issue and WPD should collaborate with the Township, Village, and other governmental entities to foster an inclusive community.
The Board should continue to support staff efforts that align with the Statement of Inclusion. A great Park District requires great people, and a professional environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion is a necessity in today's workforce.
The Park District's programming promotes active social interaction within our community. Successful programming and activities allow the Park District to create new programming. Ensuring a diverse array of programming exists across all ages and demographics supports the Statement of Inclusion and helps the Park District serve our community.
Hello, my name is Patrick Lahey, and I am a candidate for Park District Commissioner. I am a Northfield native and Loyola Academy graduate, with a degree in Economics from Amherst College. For the past 23 years, I have worked at WH Trading, a commodity trading company, in both Chicago and London. My wife, Sarah, teaches at New Trier, and we have three children attending three different D39 schools. We have been proud residents of Wilmette for the past decade.
I am running for Commissioner because our Park District is an essential part of the Wilmette community that I hold dear. Like many families with two working parents, we rely on the Park District’s before- and after- school CARE programming to get through the week. On the weekend, we are at nearly every park, sharing moments of waterslides at the Aquatic Center, gymnastics at the Rec Center, ice skating at Centennial, tennis at Vattmann, soccer at Community Playfield, and so many others.
In addition, I am also running for Park District Commissioner to protect our park spaces for future generations. Our parks hold countless personal memories, whether it be swimming at the Gillson shoreline at dawn or taking my dogs for a walk at dusk. As our finest amenities, our parks deserve to be treated with the utmost care and respect
The Park District must strive to better serve the people of Wilmette. The issues facing us don’t have simple solutions and don’t need hurried answers. As Commissioner, I will be deliberate, thoughtful, and transparent in my efforts to balance the programming needs of our community with thoughtful stewardship of our park spaces.
2. What are your priorities for Wilmette Park District (WPD) and how will you work with the board and park district staff to address them?
The strategic and comprehensive plans being produced will guide our Park District for a generation. As a member of a focus group for these projects, I participated in the process directly, and saw firsthand the scope of neighbors’ concerns. It is critical that the Board ensures these plans represent the entire community and that the Park District's long-term intentions are clear.
A more urgent priority is working through the enormous $13.2 million capital budget schedule for 2023 and $7 million budget in 2024. This year’s expenditures include multimillion-dollar projects at several parks and facilities – including Gillson Park, Langdon Beach, and West Park – as well as the addition of pickleball courts.
As Commissioner, I will help the board set the direction of the Park District, establish priorities and goals, and empower staff to achieve those goals. With my professional experience as a partner in a business with international operations and multiple domestic offices, I have the skills to manage complexity and address difficult issues.
3. What is WPD’s role in protecting green spaces and the environment?
WPD should be our community’s leader in environmental policy. The new sustainability coordinator position is a small step towards a greener Park District but much more can be done. I look forward to working with the coordinator to create a WPD sustainability plan to be integrated into our strategic and comprehensive plans.
I believe a high bar should exist for reducing greenspace for amenities, and any trees cut down should be matched with new saplings. We must prioritize the preservation and expansion of our collective green space. I believe WPD should explore all reasonable opportunities to expand our collective green space as well as consider alternative locations for maintenance facilities currently in our parks to free up contiguous green space.
4. How can the board balance the concerns of specific neighborhoods with WPD development and activities?
The Wilmette Park District exists to serve the residents of Wilmette. The Park Board should first acknowledge that significant neighborhood issues have risen to the board level regarding nearly every major park in the past four years, which have led to a decline in trust in our Park District as a neighbor.
Having attended WPD meetings since the fall, I have seen firsthand residents' concerns regarding agendas, communications, public comment, and meeting minutes. There are basic solutions to address these concerns that will provide a foundation for rebuilding trust. Additionally, the Park District should create smaller, neighborhood-focused events that bring WPD staff and board members closer to the community to establish relationships and build trust.
By engaging with residents and incorporating their perspectives into the decision-making process, the Park Board can strike a balance between the concerns of specific neighborhoods and the broader goals of the Park District. Ultimately, this will lead to better outcomes for our community as a whole.
5. Do you see opportunities to align WPD practices with its Statement of Inclusion and, if so, where?
The Park District's mission statement and statement of inclusion are critical guiding principles for the Board. Inclusion is not a standalone issue and WPD should collaborate with the Township, Village, and other governmental entities to foster an inclusive community.
The Board should continue to support staff efforts that align with the Statement of Inclusion. A great Park District requires great people, and a professional environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion is a necessity in today's workforce.
The Park District's programming promotes active social interaction within our community. Successful programming and activities allow the Park District to create new programming. Ensuring a diverse array of programming exists across all ages and demographics supports the Statement of Inclusion and helps the Park District serve our community.