What is the Park District

The Niles Park District takes pride in its ability to serve the more than 29,000 residents of Niles, Illinois and its customers throughout Chicagoland. Whether protecting natural resources, preserving historical sites or providing thousands of unique recreational opportunities within its more than 95 acres of parkland, the district has offered a multitude of quality programs since 1954.

In addition to its diverse array of programs and special events, the Niles Park District also offers summer camps, state-licensed preschool, and before- and after-care.

Are the Park District and the Village of Niles two different entities? 
The Niles Park District is a government agency with its own elected board of commissioners and taxing powers. Although the Niles Park District and the Village of Niles share roughly the same boundaries, the Village of Niles and the Niles Park District are separate government agencies that provide different public services.

Is the Niles Park District Chartered? 
The district was established by local referendum on November 9, 1954, as the Niles Park District, with five elected commissioners.

What is a Park District? 
Park districts are somewhat unique to Illinois. They are municipal corporations created for the purpose of acquiring and maintaining parks, and for providing recreational programming. Park Districts are separate and distinct from the city, county or any other political entity. It is an agency through which the people of the state carry on government. This independence from the cities and villages permits better community service.

Park Resources
The district with its 33 full time and approximately 400 part time employees is committed to protecting its natural resources and preserving historical sites within its more than 95.2 acres of parkland. The district maintains 18 parks, including within them — ball diamonds, playgrounds, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and tennis courts, picnic areas, soccer fields, golf course, parking lots, shelters and restrooms, and two butterfly gardens. The district also operates and maintains an ice rink, an outdoor swimming pool, a leisure center (including a health club and gymnasium), two childcare/preschool centers, and an indoor soccer field.

Programs and Services
In addition to its thousands of unique programs in the areas of the arts, nature, sports and fitness, and specialized programs for tots through seniors, the Niles Park District also offers summer day camps, a nationally-accredited preschool, and before- and after care. 

The Park District also offers many seasonal community special events, including the award-winning 4^th of July celebration, Harvest Hustle 5K, summer concerts, summer movies, and many more.

Boundaries
The Niles Park District is bordered by Morton Grove to the east, Chicago to the southeast and southwest, Lincolnwood to the south, Morton Grove to the west, and Glenview to the North, the district includes nearly all of the Village of Niles.

How is the Park District Governed? 
The five-member Board of Park Commissioners is elected by the residents of Niles and is responsible for setting policies and procedures that best benefit the Park District and community. The Board appoints the Executive Director, who carries out the policies of the Board and hires a staff.​ The Board adopts a budget, levies property taxes and is responsible for hiring and evaluating the Executive Director. In addition, the board selects a president and vice president and appoints a secretary, treasurer and attorney. Board members serve as liaisons between various community organizations and committees.

If a resident has a question or concern, it is best to start off by contacting one of our staff members. If, after talking to staff, you still have a question with the way a policy is implemented, you should contact the park district's Executive Director, Tom Elenz. If at this point you still feel your concern has not been addressed, then you should contact the Board of Park Commissioners. This can be done by contacting an individual board member or by attending a monthly board meeting at the Howard Leisure Center. On every agenda there is time allocated for people to speak before the Board.

State & National Memberships
The Niles Park District is a member agency of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) and the Illinois Parks Association of Risk Services (IPARKS).