October 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 66

Urban C hamp i o ns | ch i cag o

Chicago Park District
Timothy J. Mitchell
General Superintendent
& CEO of the Chicago
Park District
Facilities & Programs

7,700 acres of
parkland/570 parks
24 miles of lakefront
31 beaches
15 accessible beach
walks
86 pools
70 accessible pool
features
60 fitness centers
518 playgrounds
90 accessible
playgrounds
547 programs
21,092 individual classes
51 Special Recreation
programs
534 baseball fields
2 wheelchair baseball/
softball fields
15 dog friendly areas
10 museums
8 skate parks
6 golf courses
9 harbors
9 ice skating rinks
12 cultural centers
1 state-of-the-art sports/
event arena
90 gardens
40 bird and butterfly
sanctuaries
17 historic lagoons
11 savannahs/woodlands
5 wetlands
22 prairies/grasslands
8 nature gardens
8 dune habitats
2 world-class
conservatories
1 nature center
1 urban farm
1 organic greenhouse
1 fruit orchard

64 Parks & Recreation

get money, because when I did a tour and met people in parks, they gave me their needs, wants, and
desires, " Mitchell says. " People who had a swimming pool wanted a cover. People who didn't have
a swimming pool wanted a swimming pool. People
who had a playground wanted a new playground.
" By the time I got done with the tour, my list was $2
billion of capital improvements that individuals wanted throughout the city, and our annual capital budget
was $35 to $40 million, " Mitchell says. " But it set me
on the course which I tend to follow: I have to be chief
fundraiser and chief lobbyist for the Park District. "
While Mitchell wasn't able to parlay his prior
connections and experience into a multi-billion dollar windfall for the Park District, he did learn to work
with Chicago's 50 Aldermen, each of whom had $1.3
million in " menu money. " As a result, the Park District now takes in an additional $20 million a year.
The Park District until that point did not receive
funds from Tax Increment Financing (TIF) that accrue from increases in property values in the city.
TIF funds typically went to economic development
capital projects.
" I went to the Mayor and said, 'Parks are an integral part of a livable city, and he agreed with me,
and since then we've been getting a fair share, "
Mitchell recalls. " It's equal to 50 to 60 percent of my
regular capital budget. "
Mitchell also works the Illinois capital for funds.
" I've been down to Springfield more than any of
my predecessors, " he says. " The speaker of the Illinois House has been down there for 40 years and
told me, 'Tim, I've never seen a Park District down
here so much.' And I said, 'It's important.' " His perseverance paid off. " Just this year alone, we got $52
million in capital improvements from various state
representatives and the State of Illinois. "
The federal government, at least on the surface,
would appear to be equally fertile hunting grounds
for parks and recreation agencies across the country. Mitchell has worked closely with NRPA's legislative affairs and public policy staffs to pry loose
funds, something he occasionally likens to banging
his head against the wall.
" But, again, that's a tougher nut to crack, " Mitchell adds. " But I think with myself and NRPA, we are
making movement in Washington. The conversation
about parks is staring to happen. "
He is particularly pleased that they've been able

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to work with the Democratic Congress in establishing a parks subcommittee. " That is good, because
if we get any negative legislation that could endanger funding to park and recreation departments
throughout the nation, at least we have a core group
there-40 Members of Congress we can call and
say, 'Could you help us out?' "
Mitchell says his interaction with Mayor Daley
occurs on several levels. Formally, they meet once
a month, where " we will spend anywhere from an
hour to an hour and a half going through a litany of
things, " he says.
" During the summer, we probably spend most
Saturdays together for at least one event, if not multiple events, " Mitchell continues. " He tries to do one
park ribbon-cutting every Saturday along with a
crime walk or a church event.
" The Mayor is also famous for his 'blue notes,'
Mitchell explains. " He will inevitably send me five
or six notes every day. He may have gone by a park
and seen a problem or was asked a question at a
crime watch meeting. Depending on how pertinent I
think it is to him, I'll either save it for a monthly briefing or I'll send a note back. "
In late summer, Daley announced he would not
run for office again in 2011, in order to spend more
time with his family. Have begun office in 1989,
Daley will have become Chicago's longest-serving
mayor, just ahead of his father, Richard J. Daley. For
Mitchell, summarizing the mayor's legacy isn't hard.
" Certainly, the Mayor has been a fantastic leader
of Chicago and a fantastic supporter of the parks on
so many levels, " Mitchell says. " It will be a great loss.
" But, hopefully, for any new administration that
comes in, I will be a strong advocate with my advisory councils. I feel that the Park District is well
positioned to be a strong advocate in any administration for the importance of parks and recreation
and after-school programs for every neighborhood
in the city. "
" I'd like to say parks will be his number-one legacy, but I have to say that in his heart it was education.
In his heart, he understands that the most important
thing a parent or government can do is provide the
best quality education for a child, " Mitchell says.
" Then, quite frankly, I would put open space, parks,
and the environment-all three of these things as
part of his major initiatives. The greening of Chicago
is going to be a major part of his legacy. "
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October 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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