New commissioner wants to share Niles parks’ perks

New Niles Park Board Commissioner Julie Genualdi stands with Dennis O'Donovan, Bill Terpinas and board President Ray Czarnik. | Contributed photo

Updated: December 3, 2012 1:35AM

NILES — Julie Genualdi has seen the positive impact the Niles Park District has had on her own family and she wants to contribute to its success.

A Niles resident since 1997, Genualdi has been appointed as a Niles Park District commissioner, replacing Chuck Barbaglia.

“I’m always looking for more ways to get involved in the community,” Genualdi said of her desire to join the board.

Genualdi, a Park Ridge police officer, said all of her three children participated in a myriad of parks programs. Her daughter, who is now a junior in college, has been involved in various district activities such as T-ball, ice skating and dodgeball. Her two sons, ages 8 and 11, got their start at the Niles Park District’s Bright Beginnings Preschool.

“They began their educational journey there,” Genualdi said.

Her boys, who attend St. John Brebeuf School, also played T-ball, soccer, basketball and dodgeball. In addition to sports, her kids also had fun at the Park District’s special events such as the Easter-egg hunts, Halloween parties, parades and writing letters to Santa.

“We take advantage of all the programs they offer,” Genualdi said. “I really enjoy the Park District’s programs and I feel like I can build on already successful programs.”

Genualdi said an idea may be to look at what new programs other park districts are offering and consider bringing some of those to Niles.

At the Park Ridge Police Department, Genualdi serves as the liaison between several facets of the community, such as businesses, schools and organizations. Her work involves marketing the Police Department and creating new programs to benefit the citizens, such as crime prevention. Genualdi has been employed with the Park Ridge Police Department for 15 years and before that was a dispatcher in Skokie for four years.

Genualdi’s husband, Vince, is a patrol-division commander for the Niles Police Department.

Despite her busy life at work Genualdi finds the drive and the time to help out her community. She has been on the design committee for the St. John Brebeuf gala for the past 10 years and last year she was the decorations chairwoman and ran the auction. At St. John Brebeuf, she is also a room parent and an athletic coach.

The Sister Cities organization is another group Genualdi is passionate about. She and her husband hosted delegates from Pisa, Italy, at their home and she enjoys volunteering her time to support the Sister Cities organization.

Genualdi is also involved with the Special Olympics and serves as an executive board member for the Fraternal Order of Police in Park Ridge.

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