Publications & Sites 
Skokie Park District chief honored by village
Mayor George Van Dusen (right) presents retiring Skokie Park District Executive Director Mark Schneiderman with a plaque Monday at the Skokie Village Board meeting. | By Mike Isaacs~Sun-Times Media
Updated: July 22, 2012 6:14AM
Monday was proclaimed Mark Schneiderman Day in Skokie.
The Skokie Park District executive director, retiring after nearly 26 years with the park district, was the subject of a proclamation at Monday’s Skokie Village Board meeting.
The proclamation honors Schneiderman for overseeing the creation of Skokie’s Backlot Bash; major renovations to almost all district parks and facilities including the Skatium ice arena and the Exploritorium indoor playground; and the addition of spraygrounds at Skokie’s two water parks.
As executive director, the proclamation states, he oversaw balanced budgets; employed 14 certified staff members at the end of his tenure; and the Park District became an Illinois Distinguished Agency and won a Nation Gold Medal.
“Mark helped forge rich relationships with the Village of Skokie, the Skokie Library and public school districts and private schools,” the proclamation states.
It also covers many of the outside organizations Schneiderman has been involved in from Big Brother/Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago to the United Way and a plethora of boards on which he has sat.
Mayor George Van Dusen said Schneiderman “epitomizes professionalism.”
“He has led our park district to national renown as well as state and local renown,” Van Dusen said.
He also said Schneiderman is “one of the friendliest people you’d ever want to meet.”
Accompanied by several top park district employees and board members, Schneiderman received a standing ovation.
“Everything I’ve been involved with, and certainly everything the Park District has been involved with, has been a joint effort,” he said. “It’s not just been me. It’s been a collection of people, organizations and committed individuals interested in advancing the quality of life in Skokie.”
