Daniel L. Flaherty (1898-1976) received the local level Pugsley Medal in 1964. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois. He began his park career as a junior clerk in the South Park System of Chicago in 1921. This agency served the towns of South Chicago, Hyde Park and Lake. He served for more than 40 years in it and its successor agency, the Chicago Park District, which was formed by combining the park districts: South Parks, West Parks, and Lincoln Park. He was promoted to purchasing agent for the South Park System, and when the Chicago Park District was created in 1934, Flaherty was named assistant auditor. Within a short period of time he became assistant director of the Division of Finance and Property.
In 1942 Flaherty took a leave from the park district to become director of the Chicago service men’s center, which had opened in 1941. This facility occupied 3 floors of the old Elks Club building in Chicago, initially serving a weekend recreation center servicing 30,450 men. Later it expanded to incorporate a country club auxiliary on 12 acres in Lincoln Park and another auxiliary “catering especially to colored soldiers and sailors” on Chicago’s south side.
When the war ended, Flaherty returned to the park district in 1946 as assistant general superintendent. He remained in this role until 1960 when he was appointed general superintendent, succeeding George Donoghue, until his retirement in 1964. During his term as general superintendent, the Children’s Zoo in Lincoln Park was constructed, which familiarized an urban community with farm and indigenous animals. He also initiated the Grant Park young people’s concerts and oversaw the development of a 2,000-car underground parking garage in Grant Park.