HR1057 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1057 LRB099 20922 MST 45763 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate William Nelson on the occasion of his retirement after 18 years as the Director of the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of William Nelson, numerous improvements were made, including the addition of Whitewater Junction Aquatic Park, 2 expansions of the Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center, the creation and operation of Schwiebert Riverfront Park, updates at the Highland Springs and Saukie golf courses, and the addition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and Rauch Park; the playgrounds and recreational amenities received welcome attention, including the Quad-Cities' first dog park, the pickleball courts, new tennis courts at Hodge Park, and the cutting-edge electronic playground at Schwiebert Park; and

WHEREAS, Thanks to William Nelson's commitment to Rock Island, residents have grown accustomed to its parks being a source of great pride to the city, and its recreation facilities have set a standard other communities strive to match; and

WHEREAS, William Nelson served on the board and chaired the Quad City Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Bi-State Riverfront Council, where he helped to attract and stage such events as Train Festival 2011 in Rock Island; he is a longtime member of the Quad City Botanical Center Board, where he was a staunch supporter of the Children's Garden expansion; and

WHEREAS, William Nelson's retirement will be official in April of 2016; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate William Nelson on his retirement after 18 years as the Director of the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department, and we wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to William Nelson as an expression of our esteem and respect.