2024

• Cosley Zoo Anniversary Logo and Promotions

• Renovated Parks Plus Fitness opened

• Agency Showcase Awards for Program Guide, Cosley Zoo Logo and Central Athletic Signage for integrated photography from IPRA

• Readers Choice Top Pick from Daily Herald:

• West Suburban Livving Top Picks:

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2023

• WPD hosted more than 1.8 million visitors to facilities, events, programs

• Community Center parking lot reconfiguration and program room renovations completed

• New fountain installed at Hurley Gardens

• Hoffman Park playground replaced

• Finance department received the certificate of award for outstanding financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the 35th consecutive year.

• NEW Kiosk installed at Cosley Zoo (thanks in part to a $20,000 donation)

• New starter house installed at Arrowhead Golf Club

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2022

• New Canada lynx added at Cosley Zoo

• Community Center interior renovations began

• Assisted Downtown Wheaton Association with Christmas Parade (in the absence of a director)

• Installed the GT wave and Gravity Rail elements at Sensory Garden Playground

• Improvements at Cosley Zoo included a new deck replacement

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2021

Memorial Park hosted it’s first season of summer concerts

First year for Field of Honor at Seven Gables Park

Celebrated WPD 100th Anniversary

NEW golf maintenance/environmental center building completed at Arrowhead

NEW terrace opened at Arrowhead

President’s Park playground replaced

Six pickleball courts were added to Central Park

Arrowhead received 4.6 starts out of 5 rating from Open Table (second year)

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2020

• Memorial Park Bandshell, war memorial and park renovations completed (delayed venue opened until 2021 due to covid)

• Tree House opened at Sensory Garden Playground

• New pickleball courts at Atten Park

• Pull-up Bars for Patriots installed at Rathje Park

• Seasonal program guide converted to Digital

• COVID – PSA recorded and distributed that included City of Wheaton and School District.

• Virtual Recreation Center was created with offerings for athletics, fitness, history, animals, nature, recreation and more.

• NEW turtle sculpture and play area added at Cosley Zoo (due in part to a foundation grant/donation)

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2019

• Sensory Garden Playground receives Autism Friendly Certification from Giant Steps

• Award received by the National Parks Foundation for the great work of the 3 non profit’s Cosley, DuPage Museum and Sensory Garden.

• Prairie Patch Playground opened at Lincoln Marsh

• Hull Playground replaced

• Built new playground at Madison School in a joint partnership, projects with PTA and District 200

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2018

• Northside Obelisk? 

• Memorial Park Petanque Court?

• Employee Relief Fund was established

• WPD received Water Quality Flag from SCARCE

• WDSRA Rec and roll Room was created at Central Athletic Complex

• Golf History Starts Here - Exhibit opens at Arrowhead Golf Club

• NEW skate park built at Clocktower Commons

• Arrowhead Golf Course named Best in the West from West Suburban Living

• Reindeer Run named as one of the Top 100 Races in the State of Illinois by Chicago Athlete Magazine

• Received Best Friend of Illinois Parks, Large Business Award for IAPD’s for First Trust

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2017

• CAC Ice Rinks open

• WPD receives Distinguished Agency Accreditation

• Coins for Conservation Program and Kiosk installed at Cosley Zoo

• DuPage Museum received three IAM awards:  50th Anniversary, roof Replacement Project and Exhibit, From Flame to Fluorescent.

• Arrowhead Golf Course named “Best of the West” in West Suburban Living readers poll

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