Mission & History

Mission

The Winfield Park District exists to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all its citizens by providing and encouraging year-round recreation, education, and leisure opportunities through organized programs and activities, by effectively utilizing existing resources and by acquiring, enhancing, maintaining, and preserving new open spaces and recreation in the most efficient manner.

Core Values

Accountability

Take ownership of all our words, actions and behaviors, and be self aware of the impacts they have on others.
Embrace high performance standards that exhibit competence and confidence.
Ensure equity with clear expectations and policy and procedural standards.
Celebrate successes along the way, no matter how small or significant.

Professionalism

Be respectful to others and expect from yourself and others a standard of dignity and kindness.
Lead by example and be genuine, present, and engaged at all times.
Be responsive with timely and effective communications and follow through and promptly resolve conflict in a respectful and professional manner.
Take pride in your work and of the work of others.

Community

Facilitate open and candid communications to build and foster effective relationships built on trust and alignment for the collective good of the community.
Seek partnerships within the organization and community and achieve better results by working together as a unified team.
Exhibit leadership in community development and improvement through intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration.

Growth

Collectively commit to a vision of continued improvement through individual development and organizational improvement.
Commit to exploring and developing creative and progressive opportunities based on evolving needs and trends.
Accept mistakes as part of human nature then turn them into teachable moments towards professional growth and development.

Integrity

Exhibit strong moral character based on trust and transparency and treat others as we want to be treated.
Always seek solutions and common ground for the collective good before personal satisfactions or gain.
Commit to fiscal responsibility, fair employment practices and exceptional service.

Extraordinary

Embrace and practice methods for having a positive, flexible, and equitable work environment by providing consistent support and service to all.
Be a champion for inclusivity, diversity, equity and respect.
Be proactive and possess the ambition and passion to work towards a common vision.
Being responsive and engaged with the issues, concerns and needs of others.
Reject the status quo and strive for innovation and alignment of services with customer interests, needs and trends.

History

Prior to the establishment of the Park District, the Village of Winfield was responsible for the acquisition and management of parks and recreational facilities and made some progress in developing a foundation on which the Park District could build. The debate over the creation of the Park District can be traced back to 1929 when the Village President had first recommended a separate jurisdictional body for parks and recreation. The debate continued for 35 years until, despite a well-publicized campaign, a referendum to create a 10 square mile district was surprisingly defeated in April of 1964. Eventually, it became apparent to local residents that the merits of a separate Park District justified its creation, and the Winfield Park District was finally established by referendum on September 16, 1978.

In the fall of 2000, the Winfield Park District's residents passed a referendum to expand the Charles R. Beggs Activity Center. This historic moment would change the quality of recreational services provided to Winfield patrons forever. As of fall 2022 the park district completed another expansion/Remodeling project to the Charles R. Beggs Activity and unveiled a State of the Art new playground at Founders Park. Most recently, the Park District has undertaken a 10 year Master Plan Project which will help guide the Park District for the foreseeable future. Thank you to our residents for 47 years of excellence. Without your support and guidance the Winfield Park District would not be where it is today.