My name is Natalia Dagenhart. I want to run for Naperville Park District commission because I want to serve my community. I have been living in Naperville since March 2002. I want to be the voice of Naperville residents. I am not a career politician; I am a Naperville mother of two and a grandmother of two. I mostly want to do it for the future of Naperville children. Since I moved to Naperville, I have spent a large amount of time enjoying Naperville parks. I like the way they are organized and would like to keep them clean, accessible, and beautiful. But there is always room for improvement. For example, there is an ongoing problem with registering children to certain classes where there is not enough space for everyone. I faced that too in the past. I would like to find a way to fix that. I also support effective financial management without overspending our budget.
Nowadays, children, teenagers, and even adults spend an excessive amount of time on the screen instead of being outside or attending sports clubs and various health programs. We must fix this problem. This is another reason why I want to serve on the Naperville Park District Board. Spending time outside is good for children’s body and mind. It’s good for their mental health as well.
I have been serving this community for 11 years by being an independent writer and contributing my articles to the websites of Daily Herald, Patch, and previously to Chicago Tribune (Naperville Sun). I also have my own website. I still write articles about arts and culture, particularly about events organized by the Chicago Sinfonietta, DuPage Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonic, and many others. I am a member of the Naperville Art League. I also serve as an Election Judge and as a SECA commissioner. Now, I want to keep serving my community but in a different role – as a Naperville Park District Commissioner.