For more information on the Park District’ s environmental efforts, visit glenviewparks. org / environment for the plan, where you can view the full Environmental Sustainability Plan. ▪
The plan was developed by the Park District’ s Environmental Team in collaboration with Wight & Company, a design, architecture and planning firm with a focus on sustainability. This plan isn’ t just about planting more trees( although we’ re doing that too!). It’ s a comprehensive guide that weaves sustainable thinking into nearly every facet of Park District operations— from land management and facility upgrades to community education and daily operations.
FOUR PILLARS OF SUSTAINABILITY
The plan is built around four key areas:
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Land Management
This includes protecting native landscapes, restoring natural habitats and using sustainable land care practices such as integrated pest management and regenerative farming at Historic Wagner Farm.
Asset Management & Resource Conservation
Think energy-efficient buildings, electric vehicles, LED lighting and water-saving systems. The District is even exploring options like geothermal energy and solar panels for future projects.
Operations
Day-to-day activities matter, too. The Park District is taking steps like reducing single-use plastics, expanding composting and training staff on green practices to embed sustainability into our culture.
Community Engagement & Partnerships
Sustainability doesn’ t stop at the edge of the parks. Through workshops, recycling drives and partnerships with groups like Greener Glenview, the Park District is empowering the whole community to get involved.
TIED TO DISTRICT GOALS
This plan isn’ t a standalone effort— it directly supports the Glenview Park District’ s 2023 – 2028 Strategic Plan, which calls for leadership in protecting environmental and cultural resources. By aligning with the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association’ s Environmental Report Card, the District is also positioning itself for state recognition and long-term accountability.
WHAT’ S NEXT?
Implementation is already underway, with many initiatives in progress— from planning for EV charging stations to expanding pollinator gardens. The Park District built two solar trailers to power newly purchased electric landscaping equipment, with support from Weiss Ace Hardware and EGO, and the IT department recycled 2,000 pounds of electronic waste, including old monitors, keyboards and printers. The Park District is also continuing to install bottle filling stations to eliminate single-use plastic bottles. And this is just the beginning. The plan is designed to evolve over time, with annual progress reports, new benchmarks and community input guiding future efforts.
A SHARED COMMITMENT
As stewards of more than 847 acres of parks, trails and natural areas, the Glenview Park District takes its responsibility seriously. But sustainability is a shared journey. Whether you’ re biking the trails, attending a zero-waste event or simply refilling your water bottle at one of our many stations, your actions are part of the solution.
For more information on the Park District’ s environmental efforts, visit glenviewparks. org / environment for the plan, where you can view the full Environmental Sustainability Plan. ▪
PARK VIEWS + NEWS 7