Michael McCarty, CPRP, has over 30 years in the field of parks and recreation and has been the Executive Director of the Glenview Park District one of the largest park districts in the State of Illinois since 2015. The Glenview Park District is a 2019 Gold Medal Finalist and has a $41 million operating budget, 115 full-time employees, 858 acres of park land, over 430,000 square feet of facilities, national historic landmarks, a farm park, and has won numerous awards and grants. Previously, Michael was the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Fairfax, Virginia, a 2011 National Gold Medal Grand Plaque winner. The City of Fairfax is known for its strategic location in Fairfax County, extensive services and arts related activities they offer their citizens and the surrounding area. The department maintains an extensive trail and park system and offers some of the best special events in Northern Virginia attracting people from all over Virginia and the Maryland/Washington National Capital Area.
Prior to the City of Fairfax, Mr. McCarty was the Executive Director of Parks and Recreation in the Town of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Longmeadow operates as a self-sustaining, non-tax subsidized budget with a highly successful childcare and dance studio operation. Longmeadow was named the 2005 and 2006 Outstanding Agency for Maintenance Innovation and Project of the Year, respectively, by the Massachusetts Parks and Recreation Association. The focus was on eliminating cost of waste and maximizing productivity and increasing net revenues.
Mr. McCarty also served as the Assistant Director of Recreation for the Town of South Windsor where he received the 2003 Outstanding Professional Award from the Connecticut Parks and Recreation Association.
He received his Bachelor Degree in Recreation Management from Springfield College and has remained a dedicated and energized professional in the field. Some of the highlights of his career have been completing numerous open space purchase; successful project and tax referendums; new park and facility developments; implementing successful foundation campaigns and large-scale renovation projects.
Mr. McCarty believes in giving back to the profession and has served as a Board of Director for AAPRA and most recently as the President of AAPRA. He has served twice as the chairman on the Revenue Management and Development School during his nine years on the Board of Regents at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV.
Michael has been a member of the National Student YMCAs; New England American Camping Association Regional Board; the Connecticut Recreation and Park Association State Conference committee for four years and member of the Executive Committee and Legislative Committee Chair from 2002 to 2003; member of Virginia Recreation and Park Society serving as chairman of the Northern Service Area, State Board member for the Society and past chairman of the Northern Virginia Directors Group. [current as of 4/22]