IN THE SPOTLIGHT—Kevin Yates, Executive Director, Chillicothe Park District
Sep 01, 2022 02:11PM ● By Sherry Adams
Kevin was born in Peoria, IL and attended Richwoods High School. He then went on to attend Eastern Illinois University where he received degrees in parks and recreation and business.
Kevin is married to Jennifer, who works at IVC District 321, and has two children; Cole 15 and Ashley 13. He accepted the job at the park district in 2000 and moved to Chillicothe in 2001.
As chief administrator of the Park District, Kevin is responsible for the implementation of agency policy and overall management of the park and recreation system. He carries out the statutory responsibilities and enacts and follows the policies adopted by the park district’s board of trustees. He serves as administrative head of all departments and divisions of the park district, in regards to; recreation programming, personnel, management facility development, marketing, and business management. As well as all these duties he also leads all communications between the employees, board of trustees and constituents, and maintains professional growth through attendance of conferences, educational sessions ,and roundtables. In addition to his schooling, Kevin also completes continuing education classes regularly to receive certifications in training park directors to navigate emerging challenges, improve operations, and maximize positive impact on his community.
Kevin is on the board of trustees and past president of the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association, he is presently on the board of directors at Pearce Community Center, board member and past president of the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce, and sits on the board of the Illinois Parks and Association Risk Services.
The Chillicothe Park District presently has nine parks and facilities that they run and maintain in the area. Shore Acres Park, Shore Acres Pool, Santa Fe Park, Coal Hollow walking park, Nellie Jackson, Rome Youth Fields, Stone Water Park, Walnut Dog Park, and Chillicothe Skate Park. The park district has approximately 60 seasonal/part time employees throughout the year. The district just recently moved their administrative offices and maintenance facilities to Rome. The Park District is financially sound and the Park Board makes sure that they are very responsible with our tax dollars.
Kevin says that the District has a master plan for Shore Acres. Phase #1 was just completed with the addition of the south parking lot, basketball, tennis and pickle ball courts, and enhancements of the club house. Some of the additions that could be included in Phase #2 at Shore Acres are; Shore Acres softball field enhancements, upgraded pool bathhouses, additional park pavilions, and new ADA compliant playground areas. Also in the coming year the park district will be expanding the trails at Coal Hollow Park just north of town.
With the new playground areas, Kevin is researching different kinds of playgrounds. He said he would like to see new innovative equipment and layouts that the public has never seen before in other parks.
Kevin stresses how important it is for the district to work hand in hand and develop relationships and support other organizations and facilities. Presently the park works alongside of the city, schools, Pearce Community Center, the town theater, and service clubs in town. “Many of our citizens regularly volunteer to do work on projects at the parks. Chillicothe is a unique town with people that want to help and see their community be all it can be,” Kevin tells us.
For the size of Chillicothe, the recreational opportunities, facilities, and parks are outstanding. When people look at moving to the town, they first look at the school district and housing and next look at the parks and recreation offered for their families. “We feel that we have a lot to offer anyone considering moving to our community.”
You can be sure that the Chillicothe Park District is in good hands and will always be moving forward and creating new opportunities or our community with Kevin Yates at the helm.
Kevin is married to Jennifer, who works at IVC District 321, and has two children; Cole 15 and Ashley 13. He accepted the job at the park district in 2000 and moved to Chillicothe in 2001.
As chief administrator of the Park District, Kevin is responsible for the implementation of agency policy and overall management of the park and recreation system. He carries out the statutory responsibilities and enacts and follows the policies adopted by the park district’s board of trustees. He serves as administrative head of all departments and divisions of the park district, in regards to; recreation programming, personnel, management facility development, marketing, and business management. As well as all these duties he also leads all communications between the employees, board of trustees and constituents, and maintains professional growth through attendance of conferences, educational sessions ,and roundtables. In addition to his schooling, Kevin also completes continuing education classes regularly to receive certifications in training park directors to navigate emerging challenges, improve operations, and maximize positive impact on his community.
Kevin is on the board of trustees and past president of the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association, he is presently on the board of directors at Pearce Community Center, board member and past president of the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce, and sits on the board of the Illinois Parks and Association Risk Services.
The Chillicothe Park District presently has nine parks and facilities that they run and maintain in the area. Shore Acres Park, Shore Acres Pool, Santa Fe Park, Coal Hollow walking park, Nellie Jackson, Rome Youth Fields, Stone Water Park, Walnut Dog Park, and Chillicothe Skate Park. The park district has approximately 60 seasonal/part time employees throughout the year. The district just recently moved their administrative offices and maintenance facilities to Rome. The Park District is financially sound and the Park Board makes sure that they are very responsible with our tax dollars.
Kevin says that the District has a master plan for Shore Acres. Phase #1 was just completed with the addition of the south parking lot, basketball, tennis and pickle ball courts, and enhancements of the club house. Some of the additions that could be included in Phase #2 at Shore Acres are; Shore Acres softball field enhancements, upgraded pool bathhouses, additional park pavilions, and new ADA compliant playground areas. Also in the coming year the park district will be expanding the trails at Coal Hollow Park just north of town.
With the new playground areas, Kevin is researching different kinds of playgrounds. He said he would like to see new innovative equipment and layouts that the public has never seen before in other parks.
Kevin stresses how important it is for the district to work hand in hand and develop relationships and support other organizations and facilities. Presently the park works alongside of the city, schools, Pearce Community Center, the town theater, and service clubs in town. “Many of our citizens regularly volunteer to do work on projects at the parks. Chillicothe is a unique town with people that want to help and see their community be all it can be,” Kevin tells us.
For the size of Chillicothe, the recreational opportunities, facilities, and parks are outstanding. When people look at moving to the town, they first look at the school district and housing and next look at the parks and recreation offered for their families. “We feel that we have a lot to offer anyone considering moving to our community.”
You can be sure that the Chillicothe Park District is in good hands and will always be moving forward and creating new opportunities or our community with Kevin Yates at the helm.