Farewell, Not Goodbye: Patrick Sexton Leaves Lemont Park District

By Patrick Sexton

In early 2005, Dan Lipowski asked me if I would consider running for the Lemont Park Board. My answer was simple; If you can convince my wife, I’m in! At the time I was actively involved in the Lemont Planning Commission, Downtown Economic Development, Lemont Little League Board and countless other extracurricular activities and I truly believed the answer would be a resounding NO. Then the words that began the journey were spoken: “If he wants to do it.”

The past 9.5 years has been a great experience one that I will cherish for a lifetime. The experience of working with board members Dan Ganzer, Amy Kramer, Dan Lipowski, Bill Keenan, Nancy Uher, Louise Egofske, Jack Williams, John Diorio, Jim Davoren, Peter Korbakes and two of the most community driven people I know- Brian Pepich and Mike Colaizzi, as well as an amazing group of dedicated employees, has been a great personal achievement.

What we have done over the years was continue to build on the legacy of the Lemont Park District that was started in 1966 with the likes of Rudy Gotlund, Ron Weber, Norb Lesnieski, Norb Kluga, Phil Smith, Morris Reinke. And enhanced with the involvement of Bill Gwodz, Joe Pociask, Dave Garvey, Jim Lesnieski, Kathy Joiner, Bill Keenan and Wayne Molitor. I am so proud that we were able to bring past board members back into the park district family and appreciate the seeds that they planted for us years ago. Seeds that I, and those who I have served with, have planted for future board members.

We have accomplished much over the past 9.5 years; the Bob Michalek Field, the Chicago White Sox Miracle Field of Lemont, Phil Santos Field, the Lemont Junior Women’s Club park, building Covington North Park, Conmarra Park, Ashbury Park and the Rock Pit, re-energizing Virginia Reed Park, Jaycee Park, Lion’s Park, Brown Park, Hillview Park, Abbey Oaks Park and coming soon Old Derby, Carriage and Northview, building a new and improved outdoor aquatic center, a full time gymnastics center, redesigning a safer and more efficient front entrance, adding numerous trees to our park system through our Lemont Park Foundation Memorial Tree and Bench program, creating strong intergovernmental partnerships and building the CORE Fitness and Aquatic Center.

Many people thought we made a poor decision building the CORE. There were rumblings that we could build it but never maintain it, people spreading rumors that membership was 500 people and dwindling. But the CORE has exceeded all of our projections and has become Lemont’s focal point for families, the true CORE of the community.

With over 3,000 memberships, 1,000,000 touches per year and the SW suburbs best July 3rd Fireworks, along with a very fiscally responsible long term plan, established by the Park Board Commissioners, I remain confident that the Lemont Park District will continue to prosper for years to come.

Every (locally) elected official has one purpose in mind; to make things better for future generations. It should never be about old Lemont vs. new Lemont, young vs. old, liberal vs. conservative, we will always have those with a different vision, but it should always be about Lemont... and making it the best community to live in.

People with differing views need to become actively involved in the community, bring a fresh perspective to the table, help each other think outside of the box, to think about the possibilities for Lemont and not every doomsday scenario. Most importantly we need to work together and find ways to compromise rather than divide.

The only two words a small-town “politician” ever really wants to hear is thank you. But in today’s society of 24/7 media coverage; pension fears, corrupt politicians and lack of respect for elected officials, it’s a phrase that we hear few and far between. So I want to say thank you to all of the elected officials in town who perform their duties, almost all, without compensation. Thank you for the hours you put in and the decisions you make, some popular others not, but decisions you feel will benefit the community for years to come.

Thank you to all of our residents who volunteer their time to the countless community groups; civic and sporting, that allows Lemont to offer a wide variety of extra curricular choices to our community. Thank you to Tim Garvey for helping me understand the importance of the past and the possibilities of the park district’s future. And thank you to my wife Trish, and sons Sean and Scott, for their patience and understanding while I was obsessed with trying to make things better.

I am excited for my new career opportunity with PING golf in Phoenix, Arizona. Although I am saddened to leave Lemont, our friends, family and the 2.5 years remaining on my 2nd term I do so knowing I did the best job I could for my community.

Someone once said to me the 5 most important words in politics are: “What’s in it for me” and I could not disagree more! For me I always believed the 5 most important words were:

“THANK YOU for your Support!”

It’s been a great ride Lemont.

Patrick Sexton
Glendale, Arizona