Frankfort Park District Honored With Best Of Best Award

FRANKFORT, IL — The Frankfort Park District has received an award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts for its partnership with Jeffrey LaMorte Salon and Spa, according to a release.

The award is for the Best Friend of Illinois Parks business category, which is part of the IAPD's Best of the Best awards. The District competed against other park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies throughout the state in order to win this award, the park district said.

The park district will be recognized at the Best of the Best awards gala in October in Wheeling.

The park district said Jeffrey LaMorte Salon and Spa has been partners and friends of the Frankfort Park District since 2014. The owner, Jeffrey LaMorte, and his family, are residents of Frankfort.

The Frankfort salon location opened in 1994.

"They have and continue to make it a priority to support the Park District’s mission," the park district said in a release.

In 2014, one of LaMorte’s fellow business owners provided him with background on the park district sponsorship program. Jeffrey LaMorte Salon and Spa signed on that year and has been a lead sponsor of the Park District’s annual “Short Run on a Long Day” 5K race ever since.

The park district said LaMorte has also run in the event, and employees gather at the race to greet runners before and after the event.

"They attend the event rain or shine to promote their partnership with the Park District," the park district said. Even during the pandemic, the salon remained the lead sponsor of that year's virtual 5k race.

The park district said the business has also sponsored other community events, and they participate in the banner sponsorship program at the athletic fields.

"For the LaMorte family, their sponsorship is not about what they get out of their sponsorship. Jeffrey LaMorte Salon and Spa are committed to the Park District because of the mission of the agency and because they are passionate about the people and the community of Frankfort," the park district said.