bryan abbott
wilmette park board
personal statement
Please tell us something about yourself and what would make you an asset to the Board of Park Commissioners.
Experience: I’ve been a Commissoner for 8 years. With this election the board will lose almost all its institutional history. I’m asking the community for one more term to provide our board with a sense of continuity, seeing long-running initiatives to fruition.
Fiscal Management: During my tenure:
Vision: The first 100 years of the WPD witnessed considerable growth. Since then, I believe our parks have passed from growth to preservation and maintenance. New initiatives must be thoroughly vetted by our community to justify its implementation.
Skills: I am a Civil Engineer with over 41 years of project management experience. Providing these skills to my community has been rewarding and beneficial to our Village.
Community Service: I have been a Boy Scout leader for the past 21 years and seen Scouting become a truly inclusive organization. I have long worked with our community’s youth, leading high adventure treks, mentoring many dozens to Eagle Scout, including some of the first female Eagle Scouts in the BSA’s history. I organized the Wilmette Wings first girls’ soccer team and I have been deeply involved in the recent reconstruction of the Women’s Club of Wilmette.
Accountability and Independence: Elected officials are accountable to their constituents. I believe in community engagement. Residents deserve to know what their elected officials think. They deserve to be heard and have their questions answered. The WPD owes their community thoughtful and transparent considerations of Park District issues.
Advocacy: I led the fight against Senator Cullerton’s Canal Shores private development easement. Public lands belong to us all and never should be forfeited to powerful people and their private financial interests.
Experience: I’ve been a Commissoner for 8 years. With this election the board will lose almost all its institutional history. I’m asking the community for one more term to provide our board with a sense of continuity, seeing long-running initiatives to fruition.
Fiscal Management: During my tenure:
- WPD taxes shrank $8.7 mil to $7.9 mil, a 9.2% tax drop
- WPD % of your property tax bill shrank 6.7% to 5.3%
- Debt shrank $23.4 mil to $6.9 mil, a 71% reduction
- Pension funds grew to over 90% funded
Vision: The first 100 years of the WPD witnessed considerable growth. Since then, I believe our parks have passed from growth to preservation and maintenance. New initiatives must be thoroughly vetted by our community to justify its implementation.
Skills: I am a Civil Engineer with over 41 years of project management experience. Providing these skills to my community has been rewarding and beneficial to our Village.
Community Service: I have been a Boy Scout leader for the past 21 years and seen Scouting become a truly inclusive organization. I have long worked with our community’s youth, leading high adventure treks, mentoring many dozens to Eagle Scout, including some of the first female Eagle Scouts in the BSA’s history. I organized the Wilmette Wings first girls’ soccer team and I have been deeply involved in the recent reconstruction of the Women’s Club of Wilmette.
Accountability and Independence: Elected officials are accountable to their constituents. I believe in community engagement. Residents deserve to know what their elected officials think. They deserve to be heard and have their questions answered. The WPD owes their community thoughtful and transparent considerations of Park District issues.
Advocacy: I led the fight against Senator Cullerton’s Canal Shores private development easement. Public lands belong to us all and never should be forfeited to powerful people and their private financial interests.
responses to voter guide questions
1. What do you hope to accomplish as a Commissioner? Please explain why these goals are priorities for you.
My goals include:
2. What are your financial priorities for Wilmette Park District (WPD) and how will you ensure they are implemented?
My tenure has been a continuation of sound financial policy. I’ve been on our Finance Committee for the past 6 years. The annual budgeting process takes 6 months of careful consideration. The recent Gillson Park Beach House project was only undertaken after years of study into its financial viability. It was financed with carefully amassed reserves, and very little debt, which will be retired in another 3 years. My priorities are to provide parks and programs that meet our needs at the greatest value. I am skeptical of expensive new programs and facilities unless there is a strong community push. I strongly favor proactive maintenance of existing facilities.
3. Identify successes and/or failures you have seen in WPD’s COVID-19 response, as well as any changes you would like to see while the pandemic continues.
COVID has required carefully balancing our psychological and physical needs against prudent safety protocols. Chicago closed their beaches, causing massive crowding at our lakefront. To maintain social distancing practices, we took strong measures to reduce beach overcrowding. Tremendous credit goes to our staff who consistently rose to unprecedented challenges. Our parks never closed. Access to the water never closed. We continually adapted to evolving State regulations. Some facilities (Golf, Paddle Tennis, Tennis, Fitness, Summer Camps and the Pool) remained flexible, and with our community’s help, they managed to provide services. Furthermore, our staff found creative ways to safely run seasonal programs.
Financial belt tightening kept the WPD from losing money last year, but the challenge remains. I hope to stay on to help with continuity and recovery.
4. What are your priorities for the Gillson Park master plan?
I have served on the Lakefront Committee since its creation 8 years ago. Securing Gillson’s future is a top priority.
I favor:
5. As compensation for WPD allowing stormwater reservoirs in three parks, the Village has agreed to fund specified improvements in those parks, including bathrooms and a fitness path at Community Playfields and bathrooms at Thornwood Park. Which specified improvements would you support and/or oppose and why?
When the Village chose to put the Stormwater tanks in our parks, my goal was to find ways that did not create “losers.” These parks should not suffer.
Providing stormwater relief while preserving these parks is primary. Improving these parks is secondary and almost tangential.
I neither favor nor oppose these proposed improvements. Implementing improvements depends on the details and a careful consideration of all residents’ concerns. Our Parks and Rec Committee deserves credit for community engagement and careful design considerations. I hope this dialog will continue, and we achieve collective solutions.
6. What, if any, are your environmental priorities for WPD and how you would ensure they are implemented?
Environmental and economic practices have increasingly become synergetic.
I don’t feel compelled to make environmental “statements.” My goal is to make a difference. I believe environmental initiatives, especially those with economic benefits, have broad community support.
The WDP has a good track record of embracing environmental practices. I support these current practices:
Yes, but like environmental issues, statements are good, but results are what matters. In my 21 years as a Boy Scout leader I’ve advocated for and been blessed to witness an enormous change in its culture. Scouting continues to blend its traditions and ideals into an open, inclusive organization. It takes work. I’m proud to be part of that (see above: Community Service).
“It’s a park, not a club” is my unofficial campaign slogan. I advocate for open parks, for all.
Tribalism has never been part of Wilmette’s culture. We accomplish so much – together. North Shore economic stratification is a challenge. We must view those who superficially seem different, as neighbors and fellow citizens. We fail each other if we pretend that discrimination doesn’t exist. We cannot delegate this issue to someone else.
Diversity is deeply woven into our society. We must value each other by our strengths and not our differences.
My goals include:
- Gillson Park: Complete the master plan, building on the success of the 2019 Beach House project. Encourage community input. Lead the way to completion.
- Stormwater Storage Project - Completion of the Stormwater projects. Continue to solicit input and find cooperative solutions
- COVID19 - Overcome safety and financial challenges of the pandemic
- Financial Oversight: Continue the longstanding history of prudent financial management. Pay debts quickly, marshal resources and remain ever mindful of value
- Community Input: Listen to my fellow residents and advocate on their behalf
- Rising to 21st Century challenges: We must honor the past and look to the future. Update programs to meet our patron’s needs and wishes. Our parks must celebrate our sense of social connection as well as provide a place of quiet reflection. Parks are an act of mutual charity that we give each other.
2. What are your financial priorities for Wilmette Park District (WPD) and how will you ensure they are implemented?
My tenure has been a continuation of sound financial policy. I’ve been on our Finance Committee for the past 6 years. The annual budgeting process takes 6 months of careful consideration. The recent Gillson Park Beach House project was only undertaken after years of study into its financial viability. It was financed with carefully amassed reserves, and very little debt, which will be retired in another 3 years. My priorities are to provide parks and programs that meet our needs at the greatest value. I am skeptical of expensive new programs and facilities unless there is a strong community push. I strongly favor proactive maintenance of existing facilities.
3. Identify successes and/or failures you have seen in WPD’s COVID-19 response, as well as any changes you would like to see while the pandemic continues.
COVID has required carefully balancing our psychological and physical needs against prudent safety protocols. Chicago closed their beaches, causing massive crowding at our lakefront. To maintain social distancing practices, we took strong measures to reduce beach overcrowding. Tremendous credit goes to our staff who consistently rose to unprecedented challenges. Our parks never closed. Access to the water never closed. We continually adapted to evolving State regulations. Some facilities (Golf, Paddle Tennis, Tennis, Fitness, Summer Camps and the Pool) remained flexible, and with our community’s help, they managed to provide services. Furthermore, our staff found creative ways to safely run seasonal programs.
Financial belt tightening kept the WPD from losing money last year, but the challenge remains. I hope to stay on to help with continuity and recovery.
4. What are your priorities for the Gillson Park master plan?
I have served on the Lakefront Committee since its creation 8 years ago. Securing Gillson’s future is a top priority.
I favor:
- Robust community input into the plan
- Restoration of roads and stormwater drainage
- Dedicated sidewalks along Harbor Dr. and a circular pedestrian park plan
- Bike lanes and racks
- Enhanced neighbor appreciation:
- Enhanced views of the harbor
- Greater acknowledgement of our Coast Guard station
- Our residential neighbors and the occasional community “exuberance” that they put up with
- The water plant. Water is life.
- Sailing Beach bathroom. Our sailors contribute substantial revenue and they deserve restrooms. Maintain Sailing’s “beach vibe”
- Enhance the natural experience. Desirable natural features include native habitat, landscaping, lakeside/sunrise views and stargazing
- Create a landscaping master plan.
- Remain mindful of beach erosion. Utilize natural means to protect our beaches
- Provide volunteer opportunities for residents
- Continue Wallace Bowl and July 3rd as important community events
- Create annual Gillson public input operations meeting
- Review park lighting: enhance security; decrease glare and light spill.
5. As compensation for WPD allowing stormwater reservoirs in three parks, the Village has agreed to fund specified improvements in those parks, including bathrooms and a fitness path at Community Playfields and bathrooms at Thornwood Park. Which specified improvements would you support and/or oppose and why?
When the Village chose to put the Stormwater tanks in our parks, my goal was to find ways that did not create “losers.” These parks should not suffer.
Providing stormwater relief while preserving these parks is primary. Improving these parks is secondary and almost tangential.
I neither favor nor oppose these proposed improvements. Implementing improvements depends on the details and a careful consideration of all residents’ concerns. Our Parks and Rec Committee deserves credit for community engagement and careful design considerations. I hope this dialog will continue, and we achieve collective solutions.
6. What, if any, are your environmental priorities for WPD and how you would ensure they are implemented?
Environmental and economic practices have increasingly become synergetic.
I don’t feel compelled to make environmental “statements.” My goal is to make a difference. I believe environmental initiatives, especially those with economic benefits, have broad community support.
The WDP has a good track record of embracing environmental practices. I support these current practices:
- Expand native plantings/habitats
- Water-bottle fill stations
- No herbicides
- Community garden plots
- Mulching landscape waste
- Stormwater retention
- Energy-efficient lighting conversions
- Encouraging walking and bicycle usage
- Capture waste-heat from ice rinks to heat our pools
- Vehicle charging stations (in our capital-plan)
- Evaluate park lighting to reduce glare and spill
- Battery-powered landscaping equipment (under study)
- Investigate solar-power where economically viable
Yes, but like environmental issues, statements are good, but results are what matters. In my 21 years as a Boy Scout leader I’ve advocated for and been blessed to witness an enormous change in its culture. Scouting continues to blend its traditions and ideals into an open, inclusive organization. It takes work. I’m proud to be part of that (see above: Community Service).
“It’s a park, not a club” is my unofficial campaign slogan. I advocate for open parks, for all.
Tribalism has never been part of Wilmette’s culture. We accomplish so much – together. North Shore economic stratification is a challenge. We must view those who superficially seem different, as neighbors and fellow citizens. We fail each other if we pretend that discrimination doesn’t exist. We cannot delegate this issue to someone else.
Diversity is deeply woven into our society. We must value each other by our strengths and not our differences.