Community Park District

What Community Park District does

The Community Park District of La Grange Park is a unit of local government established in 1946 in Cook County, Illinois, that operates parks, recreational facilities, and community programming for the residents of La Grange Park. The district manages Memorial Park (flagship), Beach Oak Park, Yena Park, and Hanesworth Playground, alongside a Recreation Center and a separate Community Park Fitness facility at 1100 E. 31st Street. Programs span youth sports leagues (soccer, baseball, basketball, tennis, pickleball, flag football, track and field), summer day camps ($95-$195/week), the Ready Teddy Preschool for ages 3-5, the Footlight Players youth theatre program for ages 6-18, adult leagues (softball, wiffleball, table tennis), dance instruction, special community events (Music Under the Stars, Wacky Wednesdays, Picnic in the Park), and facility rentals. Core operational technology consists of the CapturePoint/CommunityPass online registration platform, Constant Contact email newsletter, and a statusfy.com field-status portal, with no proprietary technology, mobile application, or AI capabilities in evidence.

Revenue is generated through six distinct streams: recurring program and class fees, monthly fitness center memberships (with optional Community Kids on-site childcare at $25/month add-on), one-time facility and park rentals, voter-approved General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds (most recently $10.7M in April 2024 and a proposed $1.25M in March 2025), state and federal grants (OSLAD, LWCF, USDA Urban Forestry, National Fitness Campaign), and resident donations and corporate sponsorships (e.g., $24,000+ for Memorial Park Multi-Sport Courts, $25,000 pledged by Strive 4 Fitness). Pricing is segmented by residency (resident vs. non-resident rates), with discounts for military families. The district is governed by an elected five-member Board of Park Commissioners and led by Executive Director Jessica Cannaday, with approximately 11-50 employees.

Recent activity is dominated by a multi-year capital expansion cycle: a $10.7M bond referendum approved April 2024 to fund Recreation Center expansion and a new gymnasium, a $700,000 acquisition of the Village Church property in February 2025 (the district's first new park since 1978), the $600,000 OSLAD-funded renovation of Yena Park, the redevelopment of Beach Oak Park, and ongoing design work with TRIA Architects. The district has earned repeated recognition from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), including the 2022 Outstanding Park and Facility Award with a perfect 100-point score for the Memorial Park Multi-Sport Courts renovation — reportedly the highest score ever recorded in Illinois.

Name

Community Park District

Legal name

Community Park District of La Grange Park

Website

https://communityparkdistrict.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Community Park District of La Grange Park is a unit of local government that operates parks, a Recreation Center, a fitness facility, and recreational programming for La Grange Park, Illinois residents, funded through property taxes, program fees, voter-approved bonds, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Public parks recreation
• Community recreation programs
• Youth sports leagues
• Fitness center memberships
• Summer camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

La Grange Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Program and Class Fees: Fees for youth and adult sports leagues, camps, dance, early childhood preschool (Ready Teddy), youth theatre (Footlight Players), pickleball, tennis, fitness classes, and special events. Collected via online registration portal and in-person at Recreation Center.
2. Fitness Center Memberships: Fitness memberships offering cardio equipment, strength training, group fitness classes, wellness programming, and personal training. Includes family memberships with Community Kids on-site childcare addon.
3. Facility and Park Rentals: Room rental sites, park rental sites, pavilion/tennis/basketball court permits, party packages, and special use permits for exclusive park use.
4. Government Bond Measures and Tax Levy: Approved $10.7 million bond measure (April 2023) for recreation center expansion and gymnasium construction. Also issues General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds for land acquisition and capital improvements (e.g., $1,250,000 in 2025, $335,000 in 2020). Annual tax levy (PTELL).
5. Grant Funding: State and federal grants for park improvements including OSLAD ($600,000 for Yena Park renovation), Land Water Conservation Fund ($342,500 for Village Church property acquisition), USDA/Morton Arboretum Urban Forestry ($8,265), and National Fitness Campaign ($30,000).
6. Donations and Sponsorships: Community donations supporting capital projects (e.g., $24,000+ raised for Memorial Park Multi-Sport Courts, $25,000 pledged by Strive 4 Fitness for outdoor fitness court), and ongoing sponsorship program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Park District operates public parks, a Recreation Center, and a fitness facility in La Grange Park, Illinois, delivering recreation programming including youth and adult sports leagues, summer camps, dance classes, preschool (Ready Teddy), youth theatre (Footlight Players), fitness memberships and personal training, park and facility rentals, and free community events such as Music Under the Stars concerts. The district charges program fees and memberships, supplemented by voter-approved bond measures, tax levies, grants, and donations, and serves as the exclusive public recreation provider within La Grange Park boundaries.

Product overview

The Community Park District operates as a park and recreation agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and facilities for residents of La Grange Park, Illinois. The organization provides fitness and wellness services through Community Park Fitness (cardio, strength training, group classes, personal training), early childhood education via Ready Teddy Preschool, youth performing arts through Footlight Players Youth Theatre, and diverse recreational programs including youth sports (soccer, baseball, basketball, tennis, pickleball), dance, summer camps, and adult leagues. The district manages park facilities including Memorial Park Multi-Sport Courts, splash pad, and offers facility rentals for private events. Community events such as Music Under the Stars concerts, Wacky Wednesdays, and the annual Pickleball Tournament complement the programming calendar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Footlight Players: Youth theatre program of the Community Park District for participants ages 6-18, fostering appreciation for the arts through a supportive, innovative and comprehensive theatre program.
• Ready Teddy Preschool

Products and services

• Ready Teddy Preschool
• Community Park Fitness

Quantifiable outcome

• 2022 Outstanding Park and Facility Award from IPRA with a perfect score of 100 points, the highest ever in Illinois history
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Village of La Grange ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2020Village awarded the park district a $25,000 TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Grant to support the Memorial Park Multi-Sport Courts project. Village collaborated on keeping outdoor resources open during COVID-19 pandemic. Joint urban forestry efforts with the park district for tree management and care.
• Strive 4 FitnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Partnership established September 1, 2020 to provide new fitness classes and events through the park district. Strive 4 Fitness pledged $25,000 to help install the National Fitness Campaign outdoor Fitness Court in Memorial Park. Additional $20,000 for initial construction and $5,000 annually for maintenance. Memorial Park designated 'Home of Beast Mode' for Strive's boot camps and events. For each Strive punch card sold through the park district, Strive donates an additional 50% of proceeds to support the fitness court project.
• JSD Planners, Engineers, Landscape Architects, SurveyorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSD collaborated with Community Park District to update existing courts at Memorial Park into an innovative space for all ages and abilities. JSD project manager Lori Vierow noted ability to face challenging spaces with creative solutions.
• TRIA ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm working with Community Park District staff on design of the new 'lobby' space as part of the Recreation Center Expansion. Space will provide residents and neighbors access to new social and recreational opportunities. Staff incorporated ideas from Master Planning and community outreach programs including indoor play space, study nooks, vending areas, comfortable seating, and game tables.
• La Grange Park Little LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by President Nicholas Michaels, La Grange Park Little League worked with the park district to establish a formal agreement to maintain and improve the 9 ballfields under park district jurisdiction. This resulted in the first affiliate agreement between the organizations in 70 years, creating a higher quality park experience for all residents. Little League supported Yena Park OSLAD grant application.
• Jack Ryder (Individual Volunteer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime La Grange Park resident who spent 3 years researching and identifying La Grange Park residents killed in action. Connected 19 families with their lost heroes. Donated personal funds from his will to purchase memorial bricks. Posthumously awarded IAPD 2020 Best of the Best Award for Outstanding Citizen Volunteer.
• AMITA Health La GrangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal healthcare provider. Ready Teddy preschoolers created messages of love and support for AMITA Health La Grange medical staff during COVID-19 pandemic. Letters sent to ATTN: Foundation Office, 5101 Willow Springs Rd., La Grange, IL 60525.
• Ancel GlinkminorOthersCorporate Counsel for the Community Park District of La Grange Park.
• Village Church (La Grange Park)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillage Church sold property at 1150 Meadowcrest to the park district for $700,000. Congregation formally approved sale January 26, 2025; board ratified February 5, 2025. The 0.86-acre property will become the first new public park in La Grange Park since 1978, with plans for passive park including walking paths, natural elements, and open space conservation preserving approximately two dozen mature trees.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Glenview Park District: Suburban Cook County park district operating parks, pools, fitness, and recreation programs. Directly comparable suburban Chicago operating context with similar service portfolio to Community Park District.
• Wheaton Park District: Illinois park district operating parks, recreation centers, and community programming for Wheaton residents. Directly comparable in operating model (municipal government unit, recreation programming, facility rentals) and suburban Chicago context.
• Downers Grove Park District: Suburban Chicago-area municipal park district with comparable size, programming portfolio (fitness, camps, preschool, sports), and funding model (tax levy, bonds, grants). Closest geographic and demographic peer for Community Park District.
• Park Ridge Park District: Cook County-area Illinois park district offering parks, recreation facilities, fitness, and youth programming under the same municipal-government framework. Comparable in service breadth and voter-funded capital model.
• Brookfield Park District: Immediately adjacent municipal park district serving Brookfield, IL residents with parks, recreation, and programming. Comparable in scale, governance model, and suburban Chicago operating context.
• Des Plaines Park District: Cook County Illinois park district operating parks, recreation facilities, fitness, and programming under an elected board governance model. Directly comparable operating structure and suburban Chicago service area.
• Naperville Park District: Illinois municipal park district operating parks, recreation facilities, fitness centers, and youth/adult programming for a single municipality. Highly comparable in governance structure (elected board, tax levy, bond funding) and service mix to Community Park District.

Broad incumbents

• Life Time Fitness: National premium fitness operator with suburban Chicago locations offering memberships, group fitness, personal training, and kids programming. Directly competes with Community Park Fitness on premium fitness and family memberships.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National nonprofit offering youth development, sports leagues, and after-school programs across the same suburban Chicago market. Overlaps with Community Park District's youth sports, camps, and recreation programming.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Broader incumbent offering comparable fitness memberships, youth programs, camps, and childcare in the same Chicago metro area. Overlaps significantly with Community Park Fitness, summer camps, and Community Kids services.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/communityparkdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-park-district-of-lagrange-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Park District