cecilia clarke
wilmette district park 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?
I am running for a second term on the Wilmette Park District Board of Trustees. I am seeking a second term for the same reasons I decided to run the first time. I love Wilmette. My husband and I have lived in Wilmette for 30 years. Our four children were born after we moved to Wilmette, and we are constant users of Park District parks, facilities, and programs.
I have a long history of volunteering in our community, first with our schools (preschool, District 39 and New Trier), and in the last few years with the Friends of the Wilmette Library and the League of Women Voters of Wilmette. Four years ago, when the possibility of serving as a Park District Commissioner was presented to me, my long history of volunteer work along with my legal training made running for the Park District Board a logical continuation of my many years of service to our community.
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?
My top priorities for the Wilmette Park District are implementing sustainability practices throughout the district, improving communications with residents, and maintaining and improving our Park District properties, facilities, and programs for all residents. These are also priorities of the Park District staff. I have worked with my fellow board members to make sure that the staff have the resources to implement these priorities. This has included funding in the capital budget for electric car charging stations, purchasing EV vehicles to replace aging and obsolete gas-powered vehicles, and hiring a horticulturalist to maintain and increase native species plantings.
My fellow board members and I have emphasized the need for improved communications with residents to the staff. Consequently, in the past year the Park District has hired a firm to rebuild its website. It is also in the process of revising its guidelines for resident communications. More needs to be done in this area and I hope to continue pushing for the implementation of improved communications between the Park District and residents.
Finally, the Board and staff are working together with consultants, BerryDunn, on a strategic and comprehensive planning process called Project Parks and Play to receive input from residents to determine how to meet the future needs of the Wilmette community.
3. What is WPD’s role in protecting green spaces and the environment?
As the owner of arguably the largest amount of green space in Wilmette, the Park District has a responsibility to protect that space and its impact on the environment. It is actively working to do so and this has included:
4. How can the board balance the concerns of specific neighborhoods with WPD development and activities?
There is no question that neighborhood input is important whenever the Park District considers adding amenities and activities to parks. Neighbors often have valuable information about parks that needs to be factored into the Park District’s decisionmaking. This has been demonstrated time and time again at the various parks. But at the same time, Wilmette parks are public, and they serve the entire village of Wilmette, so the needs of Wilmette residents and park users need to be uppermost in Park District decision-making.
5. Do you see opportunities to align WPD practices with its Statement of Inclusion and, if so, where?
The Wilmette Park District does a wonderful job incorporating the values of its Statement of Inclusion in its everyday operations. The Park District welcomes all to its parks and the July 3 fireworks, the “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” music festival, and the many Wallace Bowl presentations are special occurrences that are for everyone. But the Park District is not resting on its laurels; staff have formed a committee devoted to promoting inclusivity and it has examined Park District programs and their written descriptions toward that end. Part of the capital budget each year is set aside for repairs and work on the parks and facilities to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Planned amenities to the parks include inclusive features wherever feasible. For example, the renovation of the Lakeview Center will include a separate family restroom on both the upper and lower levels as well as baby changing stations in both men’s and women’s restrooms. Finally, the Park District partners with the North Shore Special Recreation Association to provide recreational services to those with disabilities; children that need additional support are welcome in Park District programs.
I am running for a second term on the Wilmette Park District Board of Trustees. I am seeking a second term for the same reasons I decided to run the first time. I love Wilmette. My husband and I have lived in Wilmette for 30 years. Our four children were born after we moved to Wilmette, and we are constant users of Park District parks, facilities, and programs.
I have a long history of volunteering in our community, first with our schools (preschool, District 39 and New Trier), and in the last few years with the Friends of the Wilmette Library and the League of Women Voters of Wilmette. Four years ago, when the possibility of serving as a Park District Commissioner was presented to me, my long history of volunteer work along with my legal training made running for the Park District Board a logical continuation of my many years of service to our community.
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?
My top priorities for the Wilmette Park District are implementing sustainability practices throughout the district, improving communications with residents, and maintaining and improving our Park District properties, facilities, and programs for all residents. These are also priorities of the Park District staff. I have worked with my fellow board members to make sure that the staff have the resources to implement these priorities. This has included funding in the capital budget for electric car charging stations, purchasing EV vehicles to replace aging and obsolete gas-powered vehicles, and hiring a horticulturalist to maintain and increase native species plantings.
My fellow board members and I have emphasized the need for improved communications with residents to the staff. Consequently, in the past year the Park District has hired a firm to rebuild its website. It is also in the process of revising its guidelines for resident communications. More needs to be done in this area and I hope to continue pushing for the implementation of improved communications between the Park District and residents.
Finally, the Board and staff are working together with consultants, BerryDunn, on a strategic and comprehensive planning process called Project Parks and Play to receive input from residents to determine how to meet the future needs of the Wilmette community.
3. What is WPD’s role in protecting green spaces and the environment?
As the owner of arguably the largest amount of green space in Wilmette, the Park District has a responsibility to protect that space and its impact on the environment. It is actively working to do so and this has included:
- Using bioswales at the new beach house and parking lot at Gillson Park to reduce flooding,
- Ensuring outdoor lighting is dark sky compliant,
- utilizing LED lighting at facilities,
- installing electric car charging stations,
- adding solar panels to the roof of the Community Recreation Center,
- replacing gas powered maintenance vehicles with electric,
- developing and is implementing landscaping plans for several parks that utilize only native plants,
- planting at least 19 trees in 2022 and additional trees in 2023.,
- Restoring Langdon Bluff, including the removal of overgrown invasive plant species that have taken root there and replanting with native species.
4. How can the board balance the concerns of specific neighborhoods with WPD development and activities?
There is no question that neighborhood input is important whenever the Park District considers adding amenities and activities to parks. Neighbors often have valuable information about parks that needs to be factored into the Park District’s decisionmaking. This has been demonstrated time and time again at the various parks. But at the same time, Wilmette parks are public, and they serve the entire village of Wilmette, so the needs of Wilmette residents and park users need to be uppermost in Park District decision-making.
5. Do you see opportunities to align WPD practices with its Statement of Inclusion and, if so, where?
The Wilmette Park District does a wonderful job incorporating the values of its Statement of Inclusion in its everyday operations. The Park District welcomes all to its parks and the July 3 fireworks, the “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” music festival, and the many Wallace Bowl presentations are special occurrences that are for everyone. But the Park District is not resting on its laurels; staff have formed a committee devoted to promoting inclusivity and it has examined Park District programs and their written descriptions toward that end. Part of the capital budget each year is set aside for repairs and work on the parks and facilities to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Planned amenities to the parks include inclusive features wherever feasible. For example, the renovation of the Lakeview Center will include a separate family restroom on both the upper and lower levels as well as baby changing stations in both men’s and women’s restrooms. Finally, the Park District partners with the North Shore Special Recreation Association to provide recreational services to those with disabilities; children that need additional support are welcome in Park District programs.