Bill McAdam, CPRE, MSM, has served as Executive Director at the Downers Grove Park District since 2012 where he manages a $13 million budget, leads 400 professionals and oversees over 600 acres on 48 sites. He received his undergraduate degree in commercial recreation, and master’s degree in business management from University of St. Francis in Joliet. Bill began his career in parks and recreation at age 14 when he worked as concession stand attendant at the Lemont Park District. Since 2014, Bill has given back to his hometown by serving on the Park Board of Commissioners in Lemont, Illinois.
Bill is active in both the Illinois Association of Park Districts and Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, in which he served as the IPRA Chairman of the Board in 2006. As a member of the IAPD/IPRA Joint Coordinating Council from 2004-2008 and the Illinois Distinguished Park & Recreation Accreditation Committee since 2008, Bill has guided agencies to achieve the highest standards and provide exceptional park and recreation services to their communities. Bill has mentored professionals through ProConnect, is currently an Illinois Park & Recreation Foundation Trustee and serves as Board President for the South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation.
In 2022, Bill was honored as the Professional of the Year by the IPRA. Bill led his District to become an Illinois Accredited Distinguished Agency in 2021 in addition to receiving the 2020 IPRA Exceptional Workplace Award, GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting each year and Excellence Level A for the PDRMA Loss Control Program Review.