Joe DeLuce has been with the Champaign Park District for 17 years, first as the Director of Recreation and more recently as the District’s Executive Director. Joe holds a Bachelors of Science in Parks and Recreation from Kent State University and a Masters Degree in Recreation Administration from the University of Illinois. Joe has over 34 years of experience as a parks and recreation professional and has served as an Executive Director in Ohio, West Virginia, Florida and Georgia.
The Champaign Park District has a strong tradition of excellence and has earned three NRPA Gold Medals. It employs 70 full-time staff, 10 part-time regular staff, and more than 400 part-time staff, and operates 13 facilities including a 93-year-old historic theatre in the heart of downtown. The Champaign Park District has earned numerous program and facility awards over the years, and continues to provide outstanding parks and facilities for the community.
Joe has served two terms on the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Board. He has also been involved on the local level with Central Illinois Parks and Recreation Professionals and serves as a CAPRA visitor for the National Recreation and Park Association. Active in his community, Joe is a longstanding member of several community organizations including Champaign Rotary. Joe also serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Illinois where he teaches Foundations of Community Recreation, and has spoken at several National Aquatic Conferences and National and State Park Association Conferences throughout the country on topics including “101 Ways to Reward Your Staff," “Creative Special Events,” "Basic Training for Supervisors,” and “Creating your Own Park Partner Program.” He has been published on both the state and national level on a variety of topics including leadership, professionalism and sports.
Joe is married to Jayne Turpin DeLuce, and they have two children, Jenna and Jordan. [current as of 10/2014]