The Streamwood Park District is pleased to announce Commissioner and Park Board President William “Bill” Wright has been elected to serve a two-year term as Trustee for the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) Board of Trustees. He was installed on Saturday, January 31 at the 2026 Illinois Association of Park Districts/Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) Soaring to New Heights Conference in Chicago.
Commissioner Wright has been assigned to serve on following IAPD committees:
– Research Advisory Council
– Honors and Resolution Committee
– IAPD/IPRA Joint Legislative Committee
“I am humbled to be working alongside my fellow commissioners and the IAPD staff to help develop new ideas and drive continuous improvements that benefit park districts across the entire state,” said Wright, who was recruited by the IAPD for his commitment to parks and recreation not only in Streamwood, but across Illinois.
Wright is a past recipient of the IAPD’s Mike Cassidy Community Service Award which is presented annually to an elected official who has demonstrated the highest example of community service, personal integrity and ingenuity, and whose volunteer service to his or her community emulates the vision and voluntary efforts demonstrated by former IAPD Board President and longtime Commissioner with the Freeport Park District, Mike Cassidy, to improve the quality of life for those in his or her community.
Wright’s long list of accomplishments include serving as Park Board Commissioner for over 15 years, supporting area students through his leadership with Alignment Collaborative for Education, and leveraging needed funding for facilities, parks, playgrounds and educational opportunities through his relationships with local businesses, state legislators and other local officials. He even assists Santa Claus by filling in for him at local events during the holiday season.
“We are very proud of Bill’s accomplishments and we look forward to his continued leadership with both the Streamwood Park District and now with IAPD as well,” said Streamwood Park District Executive Director Jeff Janda.
Commissioner Wright also annually assists the District in coordinating and promoting its Hoosier Grove Barn and Brew event, which benefits the organization’s scholarship fund. The 2026 edition of Hoosier Grove Barn and Brew returns to the grounds of the award-winning Hoosier Grove Barn, 700 W. Irving Park Road, on 6-10 p.m. Friday, May 29. Early bird event tickets are now on sale. BUY TICKETS NOW!
The annual IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference is attended by professional staff and elected/appointed Board members of Illinois Park Districts, Forest Preserve Districts, Conservation Districts, and Special Recreation Associations. This year’s conference, which took place January 29-31, 2026, had nearly 5,000 attendees who attended educational sessions, networked to share and learned about new trends, opportunities, laws, as well as visited a one-stop exhibit hall that showcases in one place many of the products and services utilized or sought after by Illinois agencies in the provision of recreation services to the residents and public.
For more information about Illinois Association of Park Districts, visit their website at www.ilparks.org.