Ted Schulz, President of the New Lenox Community Park District, has been confirmed as chairman-elect of the Illinois Association of Park Districts’ (IAPD) Board of Trustees.
Schulz joined the IAPD board in 2018. As chairman-elect, Schulz will assist the association with its mission of advancing Illinois park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation, and special recreation agencies in their ability to preserve natural resources and improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois. He will work with the 19-member board to advise the association in providing service, research, advocacy, public awareness, and educational programs to its membership of more than 360 park, recreation, and conservation agencies and nearly 100 affiliated business partners.
“Ted is an outstanding proponent of enhancing the quality of life through parks, recreation, and conservation,” said Peter Murphy, IAPD President and Executive Officer. “His strong leadership skills and enthusiasm are excellent traits that will benefit IAPD’s mission of helping Illinois park districts, forest preserves, and conservation agencies thrive.”
Schulz serves on the IAPD Ambassadors, Honors and Resolutions, Nominating, and Program Committees and the IAPD/IPRA Joint Coordinating Council. He is Chairman of the IAPD Constitutional By-Laws and the Membership Committees, and Chairman-Elect of the IAPD Executive Committee. He also serves as a commissioner representative on the Illinois Parks Association Risk Services Board.
He won the IAPD Rising Star Award in 2019 for demonstrating exemplary performance in duties and responsibilities as a board member serving his first term.
Schulz was elected to the New Lenox Community Park District board in 2013 and currently serves as Board President. During his tenure, various OSLAD and PARC grant projects have been completed, including the Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Building, Leigh Creek South Park, Walker Country Estates Splash Pad, Sky Harbor Park, and the current Hibernia Phase II development. He is also a member of the New Lenox Friends of the Parks and the New Lenox Lions Club.
IAPD was established in 1928 and is the oldest state association for parks, recreation, and conservation in America. The association serves more than 2,100 elected park, recreation, and forest preserve district board members who govern 360 agencies employing more than 67,000 individuals.
IAPD strives to improve Illinois’ quality of life through park districts, forest preserves, conservation, and recreation agencies by establishing grants and other new revenue streams for park land, facilities, and services; educating the public about the positive effects parks and recreation have on communities; and meeting the problem of decreasing open space in Illinois.