HR0277 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0277 LRB096 12326 GRL 25182 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Cynthia T. Peterson on the occasion of her retirement after 25 years of service to the residents of the Vernon Hills Park District; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia T. Peterson began her volunteer service to the community in 1983 when she was appointed to the Park Board's Citizen's Advisory Committee, formerly known as the Recreation Committee, which enabled the Park Board to enhance its communications with the residents and ensure that their concerns, ideas, and suggestions were thoroughly considered and implemented by the Park Board and staff; and

WHEREAS, In 1985, she was elected to the Park Board of Commissioners, with goals of improving the quality of life for the residents of her community through establishing recreation opportunities and facilities, protecting open land, acquiring park space, supporting local businesses, and serving minorities of the community; and

WHEREAS, In the early years the Park District Administrative Office was located in a small frame building in Hartmann Park, the Community Center was housed in another small building in another area, and the Park District preschool classes were held in a trailer, and Cynthia T. Peterson led the effort to acquire land to build a Community Center as a central recreation hub; through the years, she further lobbied new developers to donate land to create twenty-two neighborhood parks throughout the District's property; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia T. Peterson was an advocate for teens and residents with special needs, championing many programs for them; she was instrumental in the planning of the Family Aquatic Center, and the force behind the development of the Skateboard Park; her commitment to young people was further demonstrated by her involvement in the Hawthorn School District PTO, serving as a voice for all parents, participation in fundraising efforts, and mentoring countless young girls; utilizing her excellent time management skills, she was also able to advance her career in real estate, becoming an award winning realtor in the Chicago area; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia T. Peterson is also an advocate for the business community, insisting that all contracts for Park District operations, if feasible, be awarded to local business owners; she is also an active attendee at GLMV Chamber events; she was also a member of the Illinois Association of Park District's Boards, serving on Board Development, Finance, Honors and Resolutions, Membership and Nominating Committees, as well as Co-Chair of the Joint Conference, Co-Chair of the Joint Public Awareness, and the Joint Publications Committees; and after six years of involvement in the IAPD Development Program, she reached the top level of Master Board Member in 2003, which she has retained until this day; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia T. Peterson served as the first president of the IPRA's Ethnic Minority Society, and continues to reach out to minorities to get them involved in the Park District in every capacity; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia T. Peterson has dedicated herself to the residents of the Vernon Hills Park District, with the vision that the Park District will continue to grow in an environmentally responsible manner, providing additional play space, protecting the prairies and wetlands, erecting the safest play structures, and maintaining stimulating recreation programs for all ages and abilities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Cynthia T. Peterson on the occasion of her retirement after over 25 years of service to the residents of the Vernon Hills Park District; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to her as an expression of our deep gratitude and with best wishes for a relaxing retirement.