Bloomingdale Park District Seasonal Brochure 2014-15 Annual Report | Page 8

AWARDS & HONORS

Stratford Square Mall was honored as “Best Friend of Illinois Parks – Large Business” at
the 2014 Illinois Association of Park Districts Best of the Best Awards Gala. Stratford Square
was honored for its support, involvement and impact the business has had on Park District
residents.
Bloomingdale Park District Executive Director Carrie A. Fullerton, CPRE served as Chairman
of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association Board of Directors.
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration presented Bloomingdale
Park District Executive Director Carrie Fullerton as one of its new members at the National
Recreation & Park Association Annual Conference.
Membership is made up of practitioners and educators who have served for at least 15 years
in high-level administrative capacities in parks and recreation and demonstrated leadership
contributing to the advancement of the field. Membership is limited to 125 practicing
professionals at any one time, of which no more than 25 percent may be educators.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Park District continues to concentrate on
meeting the needs of its residents, while also
seeking other ways to improve. The main focus of
the future remains maintaining and improving the
current processes and maintenance of infrastructure
rather than building new.
Tompkins Park is scheduled to get a replacement,
farm-themed playground in 2015-16. Bloomingdale’s
origins are of an agricultural nature, and this project Tompkins Park Playground Rendering
celebrates its storied past. In collaboration with the
Bloomingdale Historical Society, this renovation also is to include some interpretive signage
near the playground. The replacement of the equipment is part of the Park District’s capital
asset replacement plan.
Phase II of the Community Giving Gardens includes rentable bed spaces for the community
(included in this brochure), an information kiosk, plumbing and a yard hydrant, a donation
station, and educational programming via the Park District.

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As of press time (September 1), the Park District’s $224,000 matching Open Space Land and
Acquisition Development (OSLAD) grant for Circle Park was still suspended by the State of
Illinois. The grant was to include a new nature playground, picnic shelter, small skate spot,
adult outdoor fitness equipment, rain gardens and improvement to stormwater management,
and renovated roller hockey rink for multi-season use.