Park District's New Director Got Big Exit Bonus at Prior Job

The Glen Ellyn Park District named a new director last night who received a large exit bonus when he left a prior position in Highland Park. 

After nearly two decades of service with Highland Park, David Harris left in 2008 with more than $300,000 for eight months work that year. 

Now, Harris has a new job: Glen Ellyn Park District executive director.

In 2010, Harris was named in a Chicago Tribune investigation as one of three park district employees who received what were described as "excessive bonuses." 

As facilities director in Highland Park, Harris' yearly salary was $135,403. When he announced he was resigning to take another position, the park district handed him the remaining $185,120 of his three-year contract—even though the district was not required to do so. According to the Tribune, his eight months of work for Highland Park in 2008 earned him $339,302.

The Tribune's 2010 report led to the resignations of three park district commissioners and community-wide anger with the park board of Highland Park.

“The Glen Ellyn Park District is committed to fiscal responsibility, and we would never do something like this,” said Melissa Creech, Glen Ellyn Park District president.

Creech said she was aware of the Tribune article, but said that Harris was not involved in pension spiking, which was also a focus of the investigation. 

In the same report, the Tribune also reported that the park district in Highland Park gave Harris an SUV, which was not part of his contract.

Harris, who is a longtime resident of Glen Ellyn, landed another park district job a year after he left Highland Park, at the Butterfield Park District, which serves Lombard and unincorporated areas near Glen Ellyn.

Harris said chosing to leave the Butterfield post and taking the Glen Ellyn job was “difficult decision,” though it's one that will be a step up in salary. According to the Tribune report, when he first joined the Butterfield district his yearly salary was about $65,000. For this post, Glen Ellyn, offered Harris $117,000 for an 18-month contract. 

Creech added that Harris will receive a standard pension package.

Harris, a 19-year resident of the village, was lauded by Creech for his experience in the park district profession. Creech said the district was lucky to find an executive director who lives in Glen Ellyn.

“It was definitely a nice perk in what we were looking for,” Creech said during the board meeting.

Harris will take current interim director Mike Fugel’s place on Sept. 7. 

“They are committed to Glen Ellyn,” Harris said of the members of the community. “They might have varying opinions…but the bottom line is they are a truly caring people, and I am one of those people.”

Editor's note: A previous version of this article misstated when Harris left Highland Park. Harris left three years ago in 2008.