The Park Ridge Park District board hired John Shea Jr., the current executive director of the DeKalb Park District, as its new executive director in March. His start day is slated for May 1.
The park district’s current executive director, Gayle Mountcastle, announced her retirement months ago.
According to park district documents, Shea will earn a base salary of $165,000.
Vice President of the Board Cindy Grau said, “I’m very excited about John joining our district as our new executive director. He is bringing passion, strategic thinking and proven leadership to his new role.”
Grau said she and Mountcastle have been working together at the park district for nine years, and that Mountcastle has been working there for 13 years.
“She’s a strong leader and she’s leaving our district in a great place financially and also with the many improvements in our facilities she’s made since she’s been here,” she said. “We’re gonna miss her a lot. But I hope that she enjoys her well-deserved retirement.”
Per the park district, Shea served as the executive director of the DeKalb Park District since 2021, where he oversaw the operation of an 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole golf course, an aquatic facility, a fitness center, two banquet facilities, a community center, a museum, and 40 park sites totaling over 700 acres. For six years before his role in the DeKalb Park District, Shea was the Superintendent of Recreation for the Winnetka Park District.
Margaret Holler, the district’s Marketing and Public Relations Director, said in an email to Pioneer Press, “On behalf of the staff, we are all going to miss Gayle Mountcastle. Her tenure as executive director has resulted in tremendous growth and innovation for the Park Ridge community. We are also looking forward to welcoming John Shea to the park district and are excited to learn about his vision for the future and how he can build upon Gayle’s success.”
Board President John Tunnell said, “Shea’s background in our industry, combined with his proven leadership, commitment to empowering staff, and innovative approach to community needs, assures us that he will guide the district into an exciting future under his leadership.”
Shea expressed his eagerness to contribute, stating, “I am honored and excited to embark on this journey. The opportunity to build upon the impressive facilities and programming at the Park Ridge Park District and to bring new perspectives to those efforts is truly motivating. I look forward to working with the staff and the community to usher in a vibrant era of growth and innovation.”
