Get to Know Our Park Board of Commissioners

You've probably seen them at our Gurnee Park District events, programs, or out and about in Gurnee. They are few, they are mighty, they are our Board of Commissioners! We wanted to share a few words about the important roles our board members play in not only our organization but the Gurnee community as well.

Our Board of Commissioners is made up of five publicly elected officials who each serve a four-year term:

• President – Jim Goshorn (2009 – present)
• Vice-President – Vicki Paddock (1993 – present)
• Commissioner – Gerry Crews (2011 – present)
• Commissioner – Michelle Klemz (2010 – present)
• Commissioner – Aaron Dalzot (2020 – present)

With their professional backgrounds in education, finance, marketing, and parks and recreation, these members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their positions. In addition, through years of volunteer coaching, working with Gurnee organizations such as the library or Exchange Club, or having watched their children participate in park district activities, our board members also bring familiarity and understanding of Gurnee Park District programming and the Gurnee community. It is through these experiences, coupled with their professional backgrounds, that our current board members recognized a passion for giving back to the community and an interest in upholding the mission and vision of Gurnee Park District.

At Gurnee Park District, we have made it our mission to promote fun and preserve nature. It is through this mission that we pride ourselves in providing enjoyable activities and events to our community while also working to preserve green land and nature for current and future generations. Our board members have volunteered to accept this mission as their own, and work alongside Gurnee Park District employees to ensure that the vision of being a premier provider of community-driven park and recreation experiences are met while also maintaining financial stability.

To make our mission and vision a reality, board members play important roles in several areas. As elected officials, their main purpose is to uphold and set the general policies of Gurnee Park District. To do so, each member, when elected and sworn in, follows a set of governance responsibilities. These duties include serving the people of Gurnee and their needs by fielding feedback, concerns, or suggestions, working alongside the Gurnee Park District Executive Director, assisting with budgetary strategies and approvals, as well as helping to maintain the district's values to the public. In addition, board members also help to set fees for tax levies and abatements.

As you can see, the Gurnee Park District Board of Commissioners provides a generous amount of assistance with park district operations. It is with their guidance and support that our district continues to run efficiently and be able to provide all that makes a positive impact on our current and future residents. 

To see our board members in action, please visit them at our monthly board meetings, which take place on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm at Viking Park (see our 2022 schedule here). There, you can ask questions, make suggestions, or simply observe how our park district operates.  

If you cannot make it to our monthly board meetings, you can also find our mighty Board of Commissioners at many of our special events, dedications, and other Gurnee Park District programs and activities. We hope you can stop by to say hello!