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Lincolnwood park board member brings rec experience
Updated: April 8, 2013 2:04AM
Sarah Hardin is the newest member of the Village of Lincolnwood Park and Recreation Board. Hardin, a four-year resident of Lincolnwood, was officially appointed at the Jan. 15 Board of Trustees meeting, and her first meeting as a commissioner with the parks board will be Feb. 12.
Hardin, the associate director of campus recreation at DePaul University in Chicago, has spent most of her career working in college campus recreation, and earned her doctorate in philosophy, a master of science in physical education and sport administration and a bachelor’s in physical education, curriculum and instruction.
She will serve a three-year term as the seventh member to join the board, which reviews and recommends actions to the Village Trustees. The Park and Recreation Board provides recommendations for policies, fees, administrative and budgetary matters.
Q: Why did you decide to be part of the Park and Recreation Board?
A: One reason my family moved to Lincolnwood was for the beautiful parks here — we love being outdoors. I have a background in teaching and supervising student interns who go into parks and recreation-related fields. I’ve also sat on board for several nonprofits, so I thought this was a great opportunity for me.
Q: Why do you feel it’s important to serve the community where you live, either as you’ve chosen to do as a parks and recreation commissioner, or in another capacity?
A: It’s about being an active part of your community. I think people have a tendency to complain about things but then never do anything to change things. The more you’re involved in your community the more you’ll have an understanding of why certain decisions are made.
Q: What do you feel you bring to the board as an individual?
A: I’ve worked in recreation-related fields for more than 25 years, and my background provides me with a good basis to ask the right questions to get a better understanding of what’s going on with parks and recreation in Lincolnwood and provide accurate feedback to the Board.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a Lincolnwood resident?
A: I moved to Lincolnwood with my husband and 10-year-old son from the North Park area of Chicago to be closer to the great parks here and the school system. The school my son was going to had no after-school program, and in Lincolnwood the Parks Department runs a great program for after-school. We love living here.
