Huntley Park District long time Executive Director, Thom Palmer, will be retiring in December of this year after a successful career at the district. Thom has been the Executive Director for 23 years and under his leadership the district acquired many new parks and built many new playgrounds including the Deicke Discovery Zone and was responsible for the acquisition/construction of other facilities such as Pinecrest Golf Course/Clubhouse, the REC Center, Stingray Bay Aquatic Center, Tomaso Sports Complex and the Ostrander Park Maintenance Facility.
With the changing of the guard anticipated later this fall, the Park District Board of Commissioners conducted a search for their new Executive Director over the past few months and are excited to announce Thom Palmer’s successor. “Thom did a great job during some of the busiest years of growth in Huntley. He led our district to develop many of the great parks and services now available in the community,” said Park Board President, Jerry Nepermann. “The next person has some big shoes to fill, and we think we have identified just the person to lead our district through the next chapter of our history.”
After considering many qualified candidates the Huntley Park District Board of Commissioners has selected Scott Crowe as the next Executive Director for the Huntley Park District. Scott has been a resident with his wife and children in Huntley since 2011 and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from his 22 years in the Parks and Recreation field to the organization. Scott currently serves as the Recreation Director at the district and has been a volunteer for local sports organizations and even the Huntley Park District.
In response to the selection, Scott said, “I’m honored to be chosen as the next Executive Director at the Huntley Park District. I look forward to working with our board, staff and community members to continue to improve our amazing parks and expand our activities to meet the needs of community today and tomorrow.” With the departure of Thom Palmer in December the two will work together toward a smooth transition to set the district up for success moving forward.
Upon reflecting on his long career at the Huntley Park District, Thom Palmer said, “It has been a great pleasure to serve with the current and past Park Board Members, fellow staff, the community of the Huntley area and all the people that have used our parks and facilities over that past two-plus decades. Looking back on the many corn fields that are now beautiful subdivisions and to have had the opportunity to develop the neighborhood parks for each one was very satisfying. Not every Park District Director gets the opportunity to be part of such a fast-growing community, a community that worked together to provide the highest quality of life possible.”