Sports Management: Naperville Park District by Syed Hasan

"The Naperville Park District provides leisure experiences that enhance the quality of life for our community." This is the mission statement for the Naperville Park district. It summarizes very nicely what I believe is a general trend that can be seen throughout history. There are thousands of examples present in almost every culture that involve great leaders building parks, monuments and plazas for the benefit of the general community. It is in the very nature of humanity to surround itself with beauty.This trend continues into the modern era and the River walk is an excellent example of this. The Riverwalk was built and dedicated in 1981 as a celebration of Naperville’s Sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary. Embraced as a gathering place, the River Walk has become a focal point of the community, drawing visitors from far and wide to take in its beauty; it is recognized as one of the most picturesque spots in the Midwest. To make the Riverwalk dream a reality, residents donated their time, money and materials to turn the once forgotten DuPage riverfront into a beautiful park that has won many state and national honors. Virtually any time of year, there is something happening on the Riverwalk. From the early spring all the way through fall, there are art and craft fairs, walk-a-thons, festivals and special events. Even throughout the holidays, the Park District hosts its Santa House on the River walk. These sort of events promote a social atmosphere within the community and help instill a sense of unity.
The River walk is mantained by the Naperville Park District. The Naperville Park District, created in 1966, is an independent municipal agency serving a community of 140,000+ residents.The District maintains and operates more than 2,500 acres overall comprised of more than 130 parks and facilities and serves approximately 60,000 participants each year through more than 900 recreational, arts and environmental programs and events for all ages. This, inturn, opens up alot of employment opportunities for those seeking a recreational career. The Naperville Park District offers both regular and short Term employment opportunities as well as internships. These can all be applied for by turning in an online application along with a resume. The river walk itself also acts as a stimulus for the local economy as it attracts visitors from all over the suburbs. This translates into greater profits for the nearby restaurants. The Naperville Park District plays a major part in giving the city its great reputation. This, in turn, helps attracts home buyers leading to a rise in home value in the area.
Beautiful sculptures like the one above are scattered all around the river walk and help make the visit very enjoyable as they challenge one's imagination. My visit to the park was amazing. Walking along side the river was a very relaxing experience. Alot of the local wildlife was also seen throughout the trail. The park also offers a outdoor pool. This is a very popular spot with teenager and serves as a great source of revenue for the park district. Overall, The River Walk is a wonderful attraction which allows the visitor to connect with nature and is a must for anyone seeking a fun, family oriented outdoor experience.

The Naperville Park District has a bright future planed for its parks. For the river walk, the park district plans countless renovations in order to maintain the beauty of the park. This would be accompanied by many new extensions to attract new visitors as well. For questions or comments regarding the Naperville Park District, call (630) 848-5000.