DeKALB | The DeKalb Park District recently went through a leadership change, and with the turnover comes a new vision for the park district.

Cindy Capek has taken over as the executive director of the DeKalb Park District.

Capek got her undergraduate degree in secondary math education from California University of Pennsylvania.

Penn State then awarded her a master’s degree in parks and recreation administration.

Parks and recreation first caught her eye while working on a recreation program she initiated with some of her classmates for underprivileged children. The recreation program benefitted a range of students from kindergarten-age through teenage.

She left her role at the Addison Park District to continue her work in DeKalb.

Capek gave an overview of the different things she would like to focus on including her hope to provide a good example of leadership to the park district.

“We want to evaluate the current level of service in regard to growth,” Capek said.

DeKalb Park District has enlisted NIU’s help to set up a strategic plan addressing the current growth of DeKalb.

Impact fees — charges on new development — will be used to develop facilities within the park district to help service neighborhoods.

Additional funding was allocated to the park district in order to keep up with the DeKalb’s growth.

Capek is hoping to upgrade the technology the Park District uses to better serve the public by networking the entire park district.

The park district is also looking into administering online registration. This complete overhaul of communication among the park district even involves updating the current financial software in use.

These changes will help the park district to communicate among their branches better with the intent to serve the DeKalb community more efficiently and thoroughly.