ParkTalk Blog: Five Ways You Can Interact with the Naperville Park District

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

For over 50 years, the Naperville Park District has fostered a well-connected community thanks to the high-quality recreation and park experiences that the organization is known for. While the Park District’s goal is to engage with the community, there are many ways residents can engage with the District, while helping to shape future events, programs, and projects Here are five ways to interact with the Naperville Park District and become involved in your community:

1.    Attend Community Events

Attendees at the Park District's annual Kite Fly event flying their kites.

The most direct method to interact with the Naperville Park District is to attend one of the many events hosted by the agency throughout the year. Each season features an engaging lineup of family-friendly events for the entire community to enjoy. These events provide opportunities to have a great time with your friends and family (and most events are free!). Whether it’s an annual event, such as Halloween Happening and Kite Fly, or a series of events like A Night at the Movies or Concerts in Your Park, there is a Park District event for nearly everyone.

Events are a great way to interact with neighbors and strengthen the sense of community. Attendees may meet new people and make new connections they never thought they would find. A community event may also ignite a new interest or hobby, which could lead to taking a Park District program to learn more about a particular activity. Most importantly, Naperville Park District events create amazing memories for friends and family and enrich healthy relationships communitywide.

2.    Volunteer with the Naperville Park District

Group of volunteers at Seager Park.

Volunteers make a huge impact on communities across the country. So much so, National Volunteer Week has been celebrated annually since 1974 to show appreciation for volunteers and the positive impact they have. The Naperville Park District relies on the help of thousands of volunteers each year from local organizations, schools, and other community members. Whether it’s spending time beautifying parks, coaching one of the Park District’s youth sports, or assisting with the set up and tear down of events, volunteers help make the Naperville Park District’s programs and events successful.

Volunteering for the Park District can be incredibly fulfilling because doing so directly impacts your community. It is also a great way to meet and socialize with other residents who have an interest in improving a neighborhood park or lending a helping hand in a variety of other ways. If you are looking for an opportunity to get involved with the Park District, it’s a great idea to rally family, friends, and neighbors to also join in. The more, the merrier! 

3.    Participate in Park District Surveys and Open Houses

Residents attending a Park District Open House event at Fort Hill Activity Center.

The Park District conducts surveys and hosts public open houses events on a regular basis. These methods of gathering resident input assist the Park District’s planning process for improving parks and facilities, as well as developing multi-year plans for the agency. During open houses, whether in-person or online, Park District staff present proposed improvement areas and a projected implementation timeline, and residents can provide input and ask questions. For example, the Park District holds an annual Capital Project Open House Event in mid-summer where residents can share input on projects planned for the coming year. Park District surveys help with gathering opinions from Naperville residents. Some of the surveys focus on usage, programs, and facilities. The Park District considers the findings of various surveys when formulating documents such as the Strategic Plan and Master Plan. These methods of feedback are a great way for residents to make a direct impact in their community, and gathering public input is vital to the Park District’s success. 

4.    Attend Park Board Meetings

Former Park Board Commissioner Marie Todd speaking at a Park Board meeting in 2023.

Naperville Park Board meetings take place on the second and fourth Thursday of every month at Fort Hill Activity Center. During these meetings, general Park District business is discussed, in addition to specific projects, programs and data that illustrates the progress of the agency.  Every board meeting is open to the public and residents can voice concerns about their community directly to the park board members during the “Matters from the Public” portion of the meeting.

Attending Park Board meetings is a great way to familiarize yourself with the park board members who were elected by the community to represent Naperville’s residents. Experiencing a meeting first-hand also provides insight into the decision-making process by the organization. If you are unable to attend a meeting in person, they are live streamed and available for viewing on the Naperville Park District’s YouTube channel. Additionally, previous meeting minutes can be found on the Park District’s website. The Naperville Park District encourages residents to attend meetings and be engaged, because the Park District works hard to serve the recreation needs of the community.

5.    Engage with the Park District’s Social Media Channels

In today’s digital world, social media is the fastest way to receive news and share information. The Naperville Park District manages agency accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X (formally Twitter), where Park District news, events, program information, and other fun content is shared. The growth of the Park District’s social media pages has allowed residents to receive updates as soon as they are posted. Additionally, followers can use direct messaging to ask questions and get immediate answers through automated FAQs via Facebook Messenger.

Interacting with the Naperville Park District on social media is mutually beneficial for users and the Park District. Posts with high engagement appear more on other users’ feeds allowing news and updates to spread organically. Interacting with posts also helps the Park District in creating engaging content for followers. If you see specific content you enjoy, interact with the post by liking, commenting and sharing with friends and neighbors. Of course, the best way to see the Park District’s social media content is to follow. You can find the Naperville Park District on Facebook, Instagram and X by searching @NaperParks.