Joliet Park District's Executive Director Ready To Move On: Park Board Votes On His Successor

JOLIET, IL — Brad Staab, the long-time face of the Joliet Park District — the person often praised for the summer festival success of the Taste of Joliet who then happened to be the same person who shut it down, will be moving on from the park district over the next several months.

On Monday evening, the Joliet Park Board will have its regular meeting and the agenda includes an item approving a new employment contract for the executive director.

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However, Staab informed Joliet Patch prior to the meeting that the executive director is not going to be him. It's going to be Sean Caddigan, who was added to the administration last December as Staab's deputy director. That is same job title Staab had prior to his promotion to replace ousted Joliet Park District director Tom Carstens in May of 2019.

Staab said he's been planning for his retirement from the Joliet Park District for a while now and that's why Caddigan will be elevated and taking over his position.

"I'm so proud of what the Joliet Park District has accomplished over the past seven years. I've been very lucky to work alongside an amazing staff and Board of Commissioners - our hard work has set the Joliet Park District up for success for the foreseeable future. Sean is going to do a great job and I know he will keep the Park District moving forward," Staab informed Joliet Patch's editor in an email.

Last December, the Joliet Park District announced that the Taste of Joliet would not take place in 2026.

Staab's statement at that time indicated the Joliet Park District plans to try a new event, but not until 2027.

"We think the 20-year mark is a good time to reinvent the fest. We've had a great run and we are so proud of what we've accomplished. Now it's time for the Joliet Park District to imagine what the next 20 years look like."

Joliet Patch asked Staab last December whether the financials from the summer of 2025 Taste of Joliet were worse than anticipated.

"It broke even this year. We just thought it was a good time to refresh the fest," he responded.

Patch asked Staab if the Taste of Joliet was so successful, why take a break, why take a full year off?

"After 20 years, we just want to see if we can come up with some new ideas and keep the event fresh," Staab responded at that time.

Monday's Joliet Park Board meeting takes place at 5 p.m. inside the Inwood Athletic Center conference room.

According to the meeting agenda, the Joliet Park Board agenda calls for a resolution to ratify the approval of 2027-2029
Employment Contract with Executive Director.