Lockport Township Park District President Re-Elected Vice-Chairman of Leading Statewide Association for Parks
SPRINGFIELD, IL – – Jeff Rigoni, President of the Lockport Township Park District, was recently re-elected Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Association of Park Districts’ (IAPD) Board of Trustees.
Rigoni joined the IAPD board in 2017. As Vice-Chairman, he will assist the association with its mission of advancing Illinois park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation, and special recreation agencies in their ability to preserve natural resources and improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois. He will work with the 19-member board to advise the association in providing service, research, advocacy, public awareness, and educational programs to its membership of 360 park, recreation, and conservation agencies and nearly 100 affiliated business partners.
“Jeff’s positive energy, enthusiasm and dedication for improving the quality of life for all citizens through parks, recreation, and conservation are unmatched,” said Peter Murphy, IAPD President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are fortunate to have his tremendous leadership skills guiding the IAPD mission and helping to advance Illinois park districts, forest preserves, and recreation agencies.”
Rigoni serves on several IAPD committees including Board Development, Constitutional Bylaws, Ambassadors, Honors and Resolutions, Nominating, and Program. He is the IAPD Events Chair of the IAPD/Illinois Park and Recreation Association Joint Conference Committee and the IAPD Co-Chair of the Joint Distinguished Park and Recreation Accreditation Committee. He also serves on the Joint Coordinating Council and the Joint Legislative Committee.
He was elected to the Lockport Township Park District board in 1997, serving 10 years as Vice President and for the past six years as President. He was instrumental in bringing three successful public-private partnerships to the park district: Legacy Paintball Park, Hellsgate Haunted House, and Com Ed demand response program. He played a key role in the park district’s acquisition of 80 acres of land from the State of Illinois for $1.00.
Rigoni served eight years on the Lockport Zoning Board of Appeals, four as its Chairman. He received a degree in political science from Lewis University.
IAPD was established in 1928 and is the oldest state association for parks, recreation, and conservation in America. The association serves more than 2,100 elected park, recreation and forest preserve district board members who govern 360 agencies employing 40,000 individuals.
IAPD strives to improve Illinois’ quality of life through park districts, forest preserves, conservation, and recreation agencies by establishing grants and other new revenue streams for park land, facilities, and services; educating the public about the positive effects parks and recreation have on communities; and meeting the problem of decreasing open space in Illinois.