The Homewood-Flossmoor Park Board honored outgoing board president Bob Haderlein for his 12 years of service. Newly elected board member Christina Farley Jackson took the oath of office for a six-year term at the May 16 board meeting and will fill Haderlein’s seat.
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park Board honored outgoing board president Bob Haderlein for his 12 years of service.
Newly elected board member Christina Farley Jackson took the oath of office for a two-year term at the May 16 board meeting and will fill Haderlein’s seat. Brent Bachus and Dallas Collins, currently serving on the board, were also sworn in to six-year terms.
Steve Johnson was elected board president and Collins is the new vice president.
Park District Executive Director Debbie Kopas said Haderlein’s leadership was imperative when commissioners faced major decisions, including closing Dolphin Lake Pool in 2010.
“It was amazing to see that the community stayed together on that issue. We all knew what we had to do,” but that didn’t make the decision any easier, she said.
In 2009, as the economic recession hit, the park board was just gearing up for the golf season “but we wondered if we’d gotten in a little over our heads,” Kopas said. She credited the board and staff for working through that trying period, making Coyote Run Golf Course a success.
The board, under Haderlein’s leadership, also built a new park and multi-use building, The Club at Dolphin Lake to replace the dilapidated meeting room and pool facility at the corner of Governors Highway and 183rd Street, Kopas said.
The park board is placing a dedicated bench in Haderlein’s honor at Indian Trails Park.
“I’ve always been involved in recreation whether baseball or softball. This was a natural progression, and I’ve loved every minute of it,” Haderlein told the Chronicle. Stepping down is “kind of bitter sweet but you have to know when it’s time to go,” he said.
Haderlein had been active for more than 15 years in Homewood Baseball & Softball. Through that volunteer effort, he got to know people with the H-F Park District, including former parks Executive Director Greg Meyer.
When the park board had a vacancy, Haderlein was encouraged to apply. He didn’t get the appointment, but he did agree to serve on the parks’ Leisure Services Committee for about 18 months.
At the next election in 2005, Haderlein ran unopposed for a six-year term on the board. After two years, he was elected president of the board and served in that position for four years.
He ran for re-election in a contested race in 2011. Again he won, and the last four years of the term he served as board president.
“It’s just great to see how things have turned out,” Haderlein said. The park district relies heavily on property taxes. As properties lost value during and after the 2008 recession, the district’s tax monies also declined.
Haderlein said the board and park district staff has worked together to see that programs have continued and buildings and parks have been maintained.