Northbrook Park District Seeks Annual Hall Of Fame Nominations

NORTHBROOK, IL — Residents have until April 30 to nominate athletes and volunteers for the next class of the Northbrook Park District's Hall of Fame. The program recognizes local athletes and community volunteers through two categories, the Sports Hall of Fame and the Volunteer Hall of Fame.

"The Hall of Fame is our way of celebrating the people who have shaped Northbrook's spirit," said Beverly Kumar, Hall of Fame committee chairwoman Beverly Kumar. "It honors residents whose dedication, talent, and service have strengthened our community in many ways and inspired generations."

According to the park district, more than 60 people have been inducted across both categories since 1978. The Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletes who live or lived in Northbrook, or who trained at a Northbrook Park District facility for at least three years. The latest inductees in that category were baseball player Doug Rader and cyclist Dee Dee Scadron in 2024.

Sports Hall of Fame nominees must have competed at the national, international Olympic or professional levels. Junior level competitions do not qualify under national or international competitions. Nominees also must have won a national championship, competed at the world level, competed in the Olympics or reached professional status in a sport.

The Volunteer Hall of Fame recognizes community volunteers who have given their time and effort to improve the quality of district recreation offerings. The latest inductees in that category were Oscar Dahl and Samuel Einhorn in 2024.

Volunteer nominees must have served significantly with the park district or one of its affiliates for at least five years, according to the park district. They also must have served as role models for the community, especially youth, and cannot have been paid for their service. The park district also says nominees cannot have volunteered only to benefit a family member.

Nominations submitted by April 30 will be reviewed by the park district's Hall of Fame committee. The committee’s recommendation will then be examined by the park district’s board of commissioners, which votes on whether to approve the inductees.

"I hope the community embraces this opportunity to shine a light on neighbors who have made a real difference," Kumar said. "The most meaningful nominations come from those who've witnessed these incredible contributions firsthand."

The park district said inductees will have their name and photo displayed at the Northbrook Sports Center and on the district’s website. They also will be recognized in person by the board of commissioners. Nomination forms are available at nbparks.org/halloffame.