Commentary on the Pleasant Dale Park Board and the Interim Director

In order for children to grow up to become law abiding productive members of the community, parents instill important messages in them while they are young. These messages include knowing right from wrong, making good choices, suffering the consequences of bad choices and setting a good example for others.

Unfortunately, at the Pleasant Dale Park District our children are learning some very different messages.

The messages are that it is okay to use and sell illegal drugs, to lie, hide a felony conviction, make false representations to the government and endanger the lives of children. And hey, if you want to violate Illinois State Statutes, that’s okay too!

On May 22, park commissioners Brad Martin, Wade Brewer and Colleen Pettrone hired a new interim park director. She has an office at the main park building. She is expected to move into the district owned house on park property at the end of the month. She has been working at the park just about every day since then. Yet she has not had a background check.

According to Illinois State Statute 70 ILCS 1205/8-23, “No park district shall knowingly employ a person for whom a criminal background investigation has not been initiated.” Why then is the Pleasant Dale Park District sending the message that it is okay to violate this law?

Katherine Parker, Pleasant Dale Park District’s new interim director, made some poor choices in her past. As a result, she was convicted of a felony for using and selling illegal drugs, placed on probation for five years and disbarred from practicing law in Illinois.

According to court records, “Her criminal conduct was greater than the crime with which she was charged.” and while Ms. Parker was partaking in her drug using and distributing lifestyle, she was also a practicing attorney - a state’s attorney! She knew better, yet she had no problem breaking the laws she was entrusted to uphold. In addition, according to court records, she was pregnant or had young children during this time, most likely endangering their lives with her illegal behavior.

Katherine Parker made bad choices and sadly, bad choices have consequences. This is something that we, as parents, try to instill in our children on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the message that park commissioners Martin, Brewer and Pettrone are sending to the children of our district is ‘don’t worry, because twenty years from now, all will be forgotten. In addition, you will be rewarded with a free home and a high paying job overseeing parks, children’s recreational activities and millions of dollars in tax money.’

It is said that people can reform, they can change their ways, and I believe that to be true. I recently met Ms. Parker. She was a pleasant woman with a warm smile. I believe Ms. Parker has turned a new leaf from her drug dealing past and this is evidenced by the reinstatement of her law license. I have no problem with Katherine Parker working and earning a good salary in the private sector, but please, not at our park district. For the sake of our children, don’t let her be a role model of what poor choices will bring to your future. I don’t want my children to learn that you can break the law by committing a felony and then be rewarded with a free house and a high paying job for which you have no experience.

I am calling on the residents and government officials of the local municipalities that are served by the Pleasant Dale Park District to say enough is enough and to put an end the detrimental messages that Pleasant Dale Park Commissioners Martin, Brewer and Pettrone are sending to the children of our community!