Sycamore Park District appoints Jonelle Bailey as new director

The Board of Commissioners is excited to introduce the community to Jonelle Bailey, the next Director of the Sycamore Park District. Input from a volunteer committee, community leaders, and park district staff helped the Board narrow 26 applications down to two final candidates. Ultimately, Jonelle demonstrated, through her leadership experience and personality, to be a great fit for the future of Sycamore Park District.

The Board of Commissioners feels that, “Jonelle connected really well with our Superintendents and Staff. Her perspective on future planning will be a great fit as we continue to move forward with our long-term strategic planning.”

Jonelle comes to us from the Salvation Army Kroc Community Centers where she spent the past six years developing skills in financial and strategic planning, customer service, and standards assessment. Before that she served as the Superintendent of Recreation for the Salt Creek Park District and Assistant Director of the Bull Run Regional Park in Centerville, Pennsylvania. Since 2015 she has taught a certificate course at Booth University based on Kroc Financial Management.

Jonelle’s lifelong passion for parks and recreation has taken her from a participant and student to an educator and administrator of the facilities, programs, and systems that help people and communities grow.Combing her love for the outdoors, value in family connections, and an understanding of how recreation agencies can enhance their community, Jonelle’s leadership and personality will surely be a great fit and make a positive in Sycamore!

Jonelle will begin as Director on August 31, 2020 providing an overlap with the current Director, Daniel Gibble, who will retire on November 6, 2020.