Gayle J. Cinke: Grayslake Park District Board Candidate

Name: Gayle J. Cinke

Family: Married, one daughter

Education: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, majoring in secondary education. Hold certification of CAP-OM (Certified Administrative Professional-Office Management).

Occupation: Executive Administrative Assistant

Previous Elected or Appointed Offices:  Elected April, 1997 to Commissioner, Grayslake Park District (16 years)

Other Community Involvement: Member, Illinois Association of Park Districts (currently serving on the Board of Trustees for the State of Illinois); Member, Grayslake Lions Club; Member, Grayslake Zoning Board; Member, Grayslake Plan Commission; Member, International Association of Administrative Professionals; Member, Grayslake Historical Society

Position Sought: Grayslake Park District Commissioner

Campaign E-mail address: None

Campaign Committee: None

Campaign Website: None

Campaign Facebook: None

Campaign Twitter: None

Why are you running?  

To continue to provide recreational activities for the community served by the District that are safe, enjoyable, in a cost-efficient manner and to continue to acquire open space and enhance programming capability.

In what ways would the Grayslake Park District benefit from your service?

When I was elected in 1997, the district had 280 acres, now we have 420 acres with three parks in Hainesville. Recreation courses offered were 47, now we have 250 per season. We were located in the old Police Station and now have our own building. We have enhanced Central Park with a splash pad, disk golf, performance pavilion, accessible fishing pier, nature trail, and added a 9-hole golf course. We have purchased 40 acres in Allegheny Park and negotiated a donation of an additional 55 acres from the land owner for a total of 95 acres.  Continue to share resources with other local governments such as the school districts and the village for efficiency of tax dollars. I will continue to advocate for the citizens of the Park District to provide enhanced recreational opportunities as I have in the past while maintaining an efficient use of tax dollars.

What is the biggest challenge the district faces and what should be done to address it?

The district does a tremendous job in trying to meeting the recreational needs of the community with an internal staff of only nine and a maintenance department of seven, numerous partnerships and local youth sports affiliate relationships and coordination. To continue to provide these services within our budget is a challenge that I feel that the district has met.

What do you think the District does well?

Continuing to provide recreational activities to all segments of the community we serve at a reasonable price point and encouraging people to have healthier life-styles by participating in the District activities and using our many parks.

What should be some of the District’s priorities over the next several years?

In order to assist us in identifying other potential areas of need, the District is currently administering a community needs assessment that is intended to help us examine any unmet needs and how we can possibly meet these needs. We are doing this with a district-wide survey and focus groups. We anticipate having the results by the end of April, 2013.

What else would you like voters to know?

I am very committed to the Park District and the community and believe that providing these recreational opportunities enhances the life style of everyone, no matter what their age or their interests.