RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this,Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death on December 3, 2014, at age 49, of Timothy ("Tim") J. Mitchell, the former head of the Chicago Park District and a respected citizen ofthe City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Born to Tom and Mariann Mitchell on January 17, 1965, Mr. Mitchell grew up in Chicago's Mount Greenwood neighborhood and later moved to the North Side of Chicago. He became interested in politics while serving in student government al Brother Rice High School, where his father was the football coach. Mr. Mitchell never lost his love for government and politics, which became the defining interest of his adult life; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell graduated from Chicago's Loyola University with a bachelor's degree in political science. A longtime aide to former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Mr. Mitchell began his illustrious career in city government in 1989 as a Managing Deputy Commissioner in the Department of Human Resources. In 1998, Mr. Mitchell was named First Deputy Commissioner ofthe Department of General Services. He was appointed Commissioner the following year, and later served in the Mayor's office as Chief of Infrastructure and Operations; and
WHEREAS, From 2004 until his retirement in 2011, Mr. Mitchell served as Chief Executive Officer and Superintendent ofthe Chicago Park District. The driving force behind a multitude of park improvements, Mr. Mitchell's many accomplishments at the Chicago Park District included creating neighborhood play lots across the city; transforming Northerly Island into a natural green space for all Chicagoans to enjoy; modernizing the Kathy Osterman Beach House at Chicago's Hollywood Beach; establishing the Grant Park dog park; and increasing parkland space and park facilities along the lakefront and in neighborhoods throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, A gifted manager and a creative problem solver, who was always acutely aware of his responsibility to taxpayers, Mr. Mitchell headed the Chicago Park District during a particularly difficult economic period in its history. At a time when other cities and agencies were reeling from the economic downturn plaguing the Nation, Mr. Mitchell expertly managed to balance the Park District's budget, keeping it in the black, while simultaneously increasing the City's parkland space and expanding programming in neighborhood parks; and
WHEREAS, A consummate professional, who was motivated by a desire to make life in Chicago more enjoyable for people of all ages and backgrounds, Mr. Mitchell was especially proud ofthe role he played in bringing Lollapalooza to Chicago; in supporting the 2006 Gay Games by allowing the games to be held at park fields and other park facilities; and in facilitating the creation ofthe Center on Halstead, a community center dedicated to securing the
health and well-being of Chicago's LGBT community; and
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WHEREAS, Deeply interested in helping people and possessed of abundant energy, Mr. Mitchell served on the board of directors ofthe City Parks Alliance, Parkways Foundation, Lincoln Park Zoo, Art Institute of Chicago, After School Matters, Boys and Girls Town of Chicago, Gateway Green, Ravenswood Park Townhome Association, Special Children's Charities, and Neighborspace. Mr. Mitchell also served as the World Commissioner representing North America for the International Federation of Parks and Recreation, and as the national co-chairman ofthe National Recreation and Parks Association. In 1994, Mr. Mitchell received the Kathy Osterman Award in recognition of his outstanding service as an executive public service employee; and
WHEREAS, Timothy ("Tim") J. Mitchell will always be remembered as a kind and generous person, with a big smile and an even bigger heart, who served the residents of this great City with dignity and honor, and as a man whose legacy survives in the standard of excellence he set for himself and inspired in others; and
WHEREAS, Timothy ('"Tim") J. Mitchell is survived by his fraternal twin brother, Tom; by his two nephews, Ryan and Jimmy; and by countless friends and admirers; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council, assembled this tenth day of December, 2014, do hereby honor the life and memory of Timothy ("Tim")J^ Mitchell; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
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the family of Timothy ("Tim") J. Mitchell