Vote Josie Beck for Park District Commissioner on April 1st

With 20 years of professional experience, primarily in the medical device field, I’ve built a career rooted in leadership, innovation, and teamwork. For a decade, I successfully led sales teams and most recently served as an Area Vice President. I embraced my entrepreneurial spirit this past year and launched Growing Happiness Garden Design, combining my love for creativity and the outdoors.

I currently serve as the President of the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, where I have dedicated myself to enhancing our community through strategic planning, fundraising, and fostering inclusivity. I am also proud to serve as the Edgewood PTO Chair of Philanthropy, leading fundraising efforts for the Northwood Day of Giving.

I’ve had the privilege of working closely with the Park District on various capital projects, leading fundraising efforts, and championing programs that ensure everyone in our community feels welcome and valued.

Throughout my career, I have developed expertise in building effective teams, optimizing budgets, and finding innovative solutions to challenges. These skills, coupled with my passion for service, make me well-prepared to bring fresh ideas and effective leadership to the Park District Commissioner role.

My commitment to helping others, protecting our natural environment, and promoting health and happiness in our diverse community drives me every day.

Together, we can ensure Highland Park continues to be a vibrant, inclusive place for all to enjoy.

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An Unbiased Candidate Bringing Optimization and Inclusion

As Park District Commissioner, I will prioritize thoughtful stewardship of resources, innovative programming, and strategic partnerships to ensure Highland Park’s parks and facilities serve the diverse needs of all residents.

By focusing on efficiency, optimization, and partnerships, I will ensure that Highland Park’s parks and facilities remain vibrant and inclusive spaces for all. Together, we can create a Park District that reflects our community’s values and aspirations, offering opportunities for recreation, creativity, and connection.

  • I will advocate for a comprehensive review of how Park District land and buildings are used to identify opportunities for improvement. By repurposing and optimizing existing spaces, we can reduce waste, enhance functionality, and expand offerings to meet the growing needs of our community.

  • The new West Ridge Center presents an exciting opportunity to serve our residents. I will ensure it is thoughtfully designed and managed to support vital community programs, including:

    • Gymnastics: Expanding resources to accommodate more participants and improve their experience.

    • The Arts: Creating state-of-the-art spaces for performing and visual arts, encouraging creativity and community engagement.

  • I am committed to exploring options to expand ice availability at Centennial Ice Arena to meet the increasing demand from hockey, figure skating, and recreational skating programs. By adding capacity and ice time, we can serve more residents and position Highland Park as a regional leader in ice sports.

  • I will champion programs and schedules that work for busy families, including flexible options such as extended hours, evening and weekend classes, and multi-session childcare programs. These initiatives will help ensure all families can take full advantage of Park District offerings, regardless of their schedules.

  • I will advocate for collaborations with local organizations to secure additional space for ceramics, indoor sports, and other community programming. These partnerships will expand opportunities for residents to enjoy diverse, high-quality experiences without the need for significant new construction.

About Josie

My husband Brad and I have called Highland Park home since 2013. Originally from Ohio, we fell in love with Highland Park from the moment we first visited. The charming downtown, picturesque beaches, plentiful parks, and numerous recreational opportunities captured our hearts.

We first lived in the Highlands where our boys attended Wayne Thomas and played at Danny Cunniff and Old Elm parks. We now live near Lincoln Park and the boys attend Indian Trail and Edgewood.

We have been fortunate to benefit from the wide variety of programs the Park District offers. I actively participate in Highland Park’s recreational scene, regularly attending group exercise classes at the recreation center and taking advantage of the park district’s lessons in golf, pickleball, and tennis.

Our boys enthusiastically enjoy Park District football, basketball, wrestling and tennis programs and are often seen exploring the aqua-park, beaches, and fishing ponds.