Rolling Meadows Park District Receives Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency Award

Friday, December 12, 2025

 Rolling Meadows Park District has been recognized as an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA).

This recognition embodies Rolling Meadows Park District’s commitment to meeting the highest professional standards and providing quality programs, parks and recreation facilities to the community.

“Reaching the status of a Distinguished Accredited Agency is no small task,” said Rolling Meadows Park District Board President Elizabeth Bolash. “After months of self-evaluation and assessment, our staff have demonstrated a strong commitment to providing exceptional Park and Recreation services through best practices in the field and high standards of professionalism. As a board member, I feel proud of our staff for this significant accomplishment and so grateful to have such high-quality services in our community.”

The Illinois Distinguished Accreditation program is administered with the goal of improving the delivery of park and recreation services to Illinois residents.

“Illinois is widely regarded as home to the nation’s leading park districts, forest preserves, conservation districts, recreation, and special recreation agencies.” said Peter Murphy, IAPD President and CEO. “The Distinguished Accreditation program gives agencies the opportunity to undergo a voluntary, comprehensive evaluation to demonstrate that they meet established standards and criteria for delivering exceptional park and recreation services.”  

A park district or recreation agency interested in applying for Distinguished Accredited Agency recognition undergoes a detailed, lengthy process of application and evaluation.

Upon completion of the evaluation, the agency is notified in writing of the official results within 10 days. Agencies that have achieved Distinguished Accredited status are recognized during the IAPD/IPRA Annual Conference in January.

“There are tremendous benefits for an agency that achieves Distinguished Accredited status,” said Jay Moffat, IAPD Co-Chair of the JDPRAC. “The agency’s application and review process are an excellent self-evaluation and agencies that apply realize increased operational efficiency and effectiveness. Communities can have confidence that their park district, forest preserve district, or recreation agency employs qualified professionals and has met professional standards.”

Rolling Meadows Park District applied for the Illinois Distinguished Accreditation program in March 2024. Executive Director Nick Troy said the thorough and collaborative journey allowed the District to evaluate, refine and strengthen operations.

“Applying for accreditation provided an opportunity to align with the highest industry standards and ensure we are delivering exceptional services to the community,” Troy said. “Achieving Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency status is a proud moment for our team and a reflection of the dedication, planning and commitment that went into every step of the process.”

The JDPRAC approved Rolling Meadows Park District for Distinguished Accredited status in November 2025 and highlighted several areas of strength. These included a clear and detailed new board member manual, consistently prepared and delivered monthly board reports and well-defined and actively implemented maintenance schedules.  

“Staff have worked diligently to ensure operations run as smoothly as possible by implementing detailed, well-documented procedures,” Troy said. “Rolling Meadows Park District’s recognition as an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency is a testament to the hard work, collaboration and dedication of our entire team. It reinforces our promise to deliver the highest standards of service to our community and motivated us to continue improving every day.”

In compliance with the program, Rolling Meadows Park District will be reevaluated in six years to verify that they have continued to demonstrate sound management practices in providing quality park and recreation services to the community.

IAPD is a nonprofit service, research, and education organization that serves park districts, forest preserves, conservation districts, recreation departments, and special recreation associations. The association advances these agencies, their citizen board members, and professional staff in their ability to provide outstanding park and recreation opportunities, preserve natural resources and improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois.

IPRA’s mission is to provide and promote exceptional standards of education, networking, and resources for all professionals in the Illinois park, recreation, and conservation communities. The association advances professional knowledge and business excellence and enhances networking and growth for all professionals in the state of Illinois.

“Achieving Distinguished Park and Recreation Accreditation is a testament to the dedication of the agency, its staff, board, and community,” said Suzi Wirtz, IPRA Executive Director. “This accomplishment strengthens quality of life and contributes to making Illinois one of the best places to live, work, and recreate.”