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Board authorizes a Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with the City for Electrical Modernization at Various Parks and the Approves the Adoption of the 2024 Tax Levy Ordinance; District’s efforts to grow and support its workforce and support community anchors guided by strategic plan goals and values

This week, the �첥��Ƶ Board of Commissioners heard various presentations including the recognition of the District’s achievements in increasing youth employment this summer and a proposed update to the Park District Code that would extend the District’s paid parental leave from eight to twelve weeks. These measures underscore the District’s commitment to supporting our city’s youth, cultivating the City’s future workforce and enhancing employee benefits to attract and maintain skilled and motivated professionals. 

“Our workforce is the most valuable asset we have and as such, we must do everything we can to support or current employees and cultivate the next generation of professionals,” �첥��Ƶ General Superintendent & CEO Rosa Escareño. “We’re so proud of the work we’ve done to engage our city’s youth by hiring 3000 young people for summer jobs. These opportunities allow teens to earn a competitive salary and create a pathway to become healthy, productive members of their communities and our city.”

Remaining firm on its commitment to engage Chicago’s teens and young adults, the Park District hired 3000 youth, ages 16 to 24 this Summer; up from 2200 youth hires last summer. These individuals served in various titles job titles including Day Camp Recreation Leaders, Lifeguards, Floriculture Worker, Sailing Instructor and Junior Laborer. Each of these positions requires little to no prior experience, making them ideal opportunities for the youngest sector of the City’s employable residents. In addition to earning a competitive salary, these opportunities keep young people engaged in positive activities and allow them to build solid foundation for future careers. 

The Park District credits its hiring success to implementing early recruitment efforts which began last Fall. The District hosted three teen opportunity fairs where teens and young adults were able to learn about and apply for summer jobs, implemented a robust communications plan and continued its strong partnerships with schools. Of the 3000 seasonal employees, 2547 individual were under 25 years of age with 87% between the ages of 16 and 20. In addition to increasing the number of youth hires from the previous year, the District increased diversity among seasonal employees with people of color representing roughly 80% of the summer workforce and women representing 55% of the summer workforce. The Park District continues to offer job training and readiness opportunities to youth, ages 13-15 at south and west sides of the city to prepare future applicants in those areas. These programs have a positive and lasting social and economic impact on families and communities as many seasonal workers progress to full-time, year-round positions and enjoy long-term careers within the parks.  

“To advance our goal of being a leading employer that prioritizes our workforce and their families, the District is proud to propose Code changes that will provide employees with an additional four weeks of paid parental leave from the current eight week leave,” said Superintendent Escareño. “Over the past two years, we have made some great strides in supporting the well-being of our workforce and their families and we believe this proposed Code change helps further that.”

In 2023, the Park District enhanced its benefits package for employees to include its first eight-week parental leave and added Juneteenth as an additional paid holiday. Earlier this year, the District reached a collective bargaining agreement with SEIU Local 73 that includes more than $28 million in wage increases and other benefits for its members. 

Also, the Board authorized the District to enter into joint procurement with the City of Chicago’s contract with TranSmart, LLC. for professional engineering services for power distribution design in an amount, not to exceed $800,000. As part of the 2024 budget commitments, the Park District is investing $8.5 million in major upgrades to the District’s aging electrical infrastructure including the Garfield Power House Substation, a 100+ year old electrical system that provides power to Garfield Park, Union Park, LaFollette Park and Skinner Park. Similar power station upgrades are also being done in Washington Park which also supplies the Jackson Park fieldhouse, harbors and concessions and Lincoln Park to address power reliability issues to park amenities including the Lincoln Park Zoo. Due to the age of these dated systems are susceptible to sporadic outages that impact park operations.  

Other Board agenda items include a The Board also approved the adoption of the 2024 tax levy ordinance allowing the District to collect its portion of the tax levy in the amount of $318,741,428 for operations costs associated with the 2025 budget; a presentation of the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and associated audit documents and the authorization of a contract for park pool boiler supplies and approval of a settlement discussed in closed session.