Urbana Park Board Seeks Applicants To Fill Vacancy

The job pays nothing, it probably won’t make you famous, and only registered voters living in Urbana need apply. But if you’re OK with all that, you might want to consider applying for a vacant seat on the Urbana Park Board.

The Urbana Park District needs someone to serve the final year of Commissioner Bob Stewart’s term. He’s moving out of state, and the Park Board will appoint someone to serve the last year of his term, starting in May. For their regular terms, commissioners are elected

Urbana Parks Executive Director Tim Bartlett says park board commissioners are often retirees or people with enough free time to devote to park business. He adds they’re often already familiar with park district facilities and program ---- either because of their own interests, or those of family members.

Bartlett says that category includes “moms and dads, people that have children or grandkids that they’re really involved with, that are just very interested in their experiences and what there is to do around Urbana.”

Bartlett says he and his staff run the Park District day-to-day. He says it’s the park board’s job to set the long-range policy and goals for Urbana’s parks.

“An example would be, we’re starting our next strategic planning process, so the board would be very involved in that role”, said Bartlett.

Bartlett says that as of Tuesday, they had yet to receive any formal applications for the vacant seat.

Application forms are available at the park district office at Leal Park, 303 W. University Avenue in Urbana, online at www.urbanaparks.org and here.