Posted on: October 5, 2015

Good Morning,

My name is Julia Nephew, President of the Glen Ellyn Park District Park Board of Commissioners. I am pleased and
honored to be standing before you for the dedication of the Newton Park Synthetic turf field. This ceremony is the
culmination of several years of work on behalf of the Glen Ellyn Park District to partner with community groups and institutions to make this field possible. I would like to give you the rationale for this field, a short history of the process of its creation, and introduce a few key individuals who were instrumental in the process.

The Park District has long recognized the importance and value of youth sports and recreation in our community.
The role of athletics in providing essential healthy activities along with life lessons is invaluable. We all remember
the friends we made and life lessons we learned by being on sports teams. The field will foster those important
connections.

Many conditions made this field a high priority for Glen Ellyn athletics: the lack of fields for the increasing number
of sports and participants, the fact that Glen Ellyn is a landlocked community, and the effect of the weather on
our fields.

The Park District athletic programs have experienced tremendous growth over the years. Sports including boy’s
and girl’s lacrosse, field hockey and rugby have recently emerged while established outdoor sports including
football, soccer, baseball and softball continue to remain popular and well attended. As a result, meeting the
growing demands has been challenging.

As a landlocked, nearly fully developed community, the availability of open space for athletic fields is very limited.
Recognizing this need, the Park District researched means to both improve and better utilize existing fields. Efforts to address the expanding demand include use of District 87 and District 41 property when available, repurposing some baseball and softball fields into open space which can be used by soccer and lacrosse, and developing a long-term plan for Ackerman Park.

The existing upper field at Newton Park also presented an opportunity to help address the increasing demand.
Converting the existing field to synthetic turf helps satisfy the increased program needs while consistently
providing a high quality field that is not dependent on weather.

With limited Park District financial resources, a collaborative and resourceful effort was needed in order for the
project to move forward. The project includes significant funding and support from the Glen Ellyn Golden Eagles
youth football organization, the Glen Ellyn Lakers soccer club and the Glen Ellyn Bulldogs lacrosse program.
Additional funding for the project is a result of the Intergovernmental Agreement with District 87 which provides
compensation to the Park District for their use of fields and facilities, including those at Newton Park. The Park
Board agreed to dedicate these funds towards helping to make this project a reality.

The Park District would like to thank all of the groups and individuals who supported the efforts to construct the
synthetic field. There certainly are many, and we are extremely appreciative of their efforts, dedication and commitment. We would like to specifically acknowledge two individuals that were instrumental in this project. Kevin Cooke, Co-Chairman of the Golden Eagles has helped provide leadership and direction and has been instrumental from start to finish. As a result of his efforts, dedication and commitment, Kevin was named the Glen Ellyn Park District Volunteer of the Year at the annual Community Awards Breakfast on Saturday, March 7. The award acknowledges Kevin’s 10 years of dedication and extraordinary service as a volunteer with the Glen Ellyn Golden Eagles Football program. We would like to thank Kevin and have asked him to say a few words…..

Thanks again Kevin for all of your effort and commitment to the Golden Eagles, Glen Ellyn Park District and this project.

I would also like to recognize Glen Ellyn Park District Commissioner’s Pierce, Kinzler and Mayo along with Director Harris, Superintendent Hopkins and Assistant Superintendent Babicz who are all in attendance. Also, I would like to acknowledge Commissioner’s Creech, Cornell and Wilson who could not be here today

The other significant partner in the construction of the field was Glenbard High School District 87. The Park District
and District 87 have a long standing partnership that mutually benefits the Glen Ellyn community through our shared resources and assets. District 87, led by Superintendent Dr. David Larson, recognized the mutual benefit the synthetic turf field would have for both the Park District and the School District. Dr. Larson and his team, led by retired Assistant Superintendent Rod Molek and Assistant Superintendent Chris McClain, were committed and
resourceful in creating a fair and equitable partnership.

The Glen Ellyn Park District would like to thank Glenbard High School District 87 Board, Superintendent Dr.
David Larson, Assistant Superintendent Chris McClain, retired Assistant Superintendent Rod Molek, Glenbard
West Principal Peter Monaghan and Assistant Principal of Athletics Joseph Kain. We have asked Dr. Larson to say a few words…..

Thank you again Dr. Larson for the support and partnership with Glenbard High School District 87.

On behalf of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners, we also thank each of you here for your support
and commitment and we hope you and your family enjoy the benefits of the Newton Park Synthetic Field for many
years to come.

The Golden Eagles Third Grade Cheerleaders will be performing a routine and then In place of a scissors ribbon
cutting, the Golden Eagles 73 lb. Silver football team will now run through the yellow ribbon! After which they
will play their game against Elk Grove.