Do you ever travel around town noting the names of streets, schools and parks? Do you wonder, what’s in a name?
In mid-May, the Naperville Park District hosted an event at Naperville Golf Course to dedicate the range as the “Glen Ekey Driving Range.”
Glen Ekey was an influential Naperville Park District director serving from 1981-1996 during a period of rapid growth in the community. The 1981 population of approximately 45,000 grew to 118,000 in 1996 with two golf courses and 123 parks encompassing 2,300 acres. Ekey had the vision to purchase on behalf of the District much of the park land that is enjoyed today for outdoor recreation.
“Glen was an avid golfer,” said Director of Golf Ed Provow. “It makes sense to the Park Board and to staff to name a golf-related amenity in honor of him.”
Ekey has been a member of the Rotary Club of Naperville with deep roots in many community activities and organizations since the early 1980s. He’s credited as the inspiration for Ribfest back in 1987, now the Exchange Club of Naperville’s signature fundraising event, held annually these days in conjunction with Independence Day in Knoch Park.
In 1994, Ekey received the IPRA Robert M. Artz Award, the IPRA’s highest honor for professionals whose “efforts have had lasting value and created an awareness of the importance of parks and recreation in the community served.”
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Ekey co-chaired the Riverwalk 2000 Fundraising Campaign Committee with Ed Channell. The duo helped to raise more than $750,000 for enhancements on the Riverwalk Extension along the DuPage River from the Washington Street Bridge to Hillside Road.
Ekey earned his B.A. in Recreation Administration from Michigan State University and his M.A. in Recreation Education from Purdue University. These days Ekey and his wife, Marilyn, share their time with family and friends in Naperville, Michigan and Arizona.
If youngsters are looking for something to do after they’ve played outside all day, look up the names of people like Harris Fawell, Judge Win Knoch, Al Rubin, May Watts, Marjorie Osborne and many others. See why parks, buildings, schools and lakes have been named in their honor. Enjoy the great outdoors!
Photos by Jo Lundeen