Glen Ellyn Park District press release. Congrats, Keith!
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Local Officials Honor Glen Ellyn Park District Commissioner Keith Schoen

Glen Ellyn Park District
Thursday, November 06, 2008

Glen Ellyn resident and park district commissioner Keith Schoen discovered the meeting he thought he was attending at Main Street Recreation Center October 23 was, in reality, a group of family, friends and local officials gathered to pay tribute to him for his many years of volunteer service.

Glen Ellyn Park District executive director Cory Atwell broke the news, announcing, “everyone knows why we are here, except one person, our guest of honor. We are here tonight to recognize Keith Schoen for his many years of service to the Glen Ellyn Park District (GEPD), Glen Ellyn Girl’s Softball Association (GEGSA), Glen Ellyn Rotary and Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA). Along with his family, these are Keith’s greatest passions.”

A longtime Rotarian, Schoen has served as park district commissioner for 20 years and softball committee member for 30 years. His ccomplishments are many, particularly with the park district. They include:

• Replacement of 16 playgrounds;
• Renovation of most parks, including the addition of a football field, press box and sledding hill to
Newton Park;
• The purchase of, improvements to and development of land for Maryknoll Park, a popular family destination;
• Expansion of Churchill Park by 11 acres, improvements to wetlands, construction of a pavilion and trails;
• Construction of fields and concessions at Ackerman Park, in addition to breaking ground last month
for a new sports complex;
• Leasing of Village Green Park from the Village of Glen Ellyn, and the addition of new ball fields, a
pavilion and playground;
• Construction of a new pool at Sunset Park;
• Acquisition and renovation of Spring Avenue Recreation Center;
• Many successful referendums, most recently in the fall of 2006, enabling the park district to renovate Main Street Recreation Center, purchase open space and construct a new sports complex in Ackerman Park.

According to Atwell, “most of these accomplishments happened because of the entire board and because of members such as Keith displayed insight, imagination, caring, positive attitude, wisdom and the desire to work together to leave things better than they were when he found them.”

GEPD board commission president Bill Taylor and Rotary president Paul Keenon presented Schoen with a signed proclamation stating:

quote:

WHEREAS, Keith R. Schoen has contributed to the success of the Glen Ellyn Park District and Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn through his committed endeavors, and
WHEREAS, Keith R. Schoen has served as president of both organizations as well as serving on numerous committees including Glen Ellyn Girls Softball Association, and;
WHEREAS, volunteering of one’s time and resources is an essential part of our community’s tradition and is essential to its spirit, and;
WHEREAS, Keith R. Schoen, has devoted a lifetime to community service, and;
WHEREAS, it is ever more in evidence that the greatest resource of Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn and Glen Ellyn Park District is its people, and;
WHEREAS, Keith has shown that he truly cares and shares generously of himself.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED by Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn and the Board of
Commissioners of the Glen Ellyn Park District, that:

1. We hereby honor Keith R. Schoen for his commitment to Glen Ellyn Park District and Rotary
Club of Glen Ellyn.

2. We extend our sincere appreciation for Keith’s service to our organizations.

The park district also unveiled a park bench bearing a plaque engraved with Schoen’s name that will be
installed in a softball field at Ackerman Park. Schoen also received a commemorative Glen Ellyn Police
Department blanket.

Schoen was joined by wife Peggy, children Chris, Mike and Kim and grandchildren Logan and Dillon.

Among those present to honor him were GEPD commissioners Taylor, vice president Ron Aubrey, treasurer Jeff Jourdan, commissioners Sandy Minogue and Ed Hess, staff members Atwell, Jeanine Sesto, Dave Scarmardo, Kathleen Esposito, Laurie Woods, James Warnstedt and Dan Kroger, WDSRA executive director Jane Hodgkinson, GEGSA member John Hall, and several Rotarians, including Keenon.

Original release with photo (pdf)

They left off the minature golf course and warming hut by the paddle tennis courts at Maryknoll.

That is a lot of unpaid man hours for the grief those commissioners take.