The first picture Debbie Gallagher had of Crystal Lake got here from a brochure that her father introduced again to the household in Omaha, Nebraska.
He was making an attempt to ease the concept of an enormous transfer for his teenage daughters, and he handed them a brochure from the small Illinois city displaying the numerous packages the park district needed to provide, together with swimming.
And that was greater than 50 years in the past.
The group and park district have grown significantly bigger within the final half-century, and Gallagher, though modest, has performed an element in that development via her dedication and repair to the park district – as an worker, elected park board member and, right this moment, as a volunteer with the Crystal Lake Parks Initiative Foundation.
Gallagher is among the many latest recipients of the Northwest Herald’s Women of Distinction Awards, honoring those that have made an imprint locally and their respective fields.
“Debbie Gallagher’s leadership inspires those around her to dream big for our community,” mentioned Michele Hartwig, president of the Crystal Lake Parks Initiative Foundation board and a former Crystal Lake park board member who served with Gallagher. “She cares about families, children, adults, pets and wants to see all live a happy and comfortable life.”
She could have moved to small-town Crystal Lake as a reluctant teen, however it’s simple to see how she has grown to embrace the group she has known as home since 1970, elevating her daughters Gretchen and Megan.
“I moved my sophomore year of high school from Omaha, Nebraska, which was a big city, to Crystal Lake, which was a smallish town,” Gallagher mentioned. “I remember [my father] gave us the Crystal Lake Park District brochure to look at the programs and how they had a lake.”
Her first position with the park district was working half time as a receptionist, one of many first faces guests noticed on the entrance of Main Beach.
She moved to full-time work with park district company and would proceed serving as an workplace supervisor and government secretary. She was assistant director on the time of her official retirement after 20 years with the park district.
After 20 years with the park district, she determined to take her expertise and data and function a volunteer, asking voters to elect her to the Crystal Lake Park District board.
“I knew they were going to have to look for a new executive director, and I wanted to be a part of that process,” Gallagher mentioned.
She served as a park district board member for 14 years, together with serving because the board’s president. In her tenure, she helped choose the brand new government director and oversee a number of tasks, from upgrading gear to renovating playgrounds.
She helped information spending and development to deliver the brand new splash pad to Veteran Acres Park in addition to one at Woodscreek Park and the updates and renovations on the Nature Center. She led the group in securing $1 million in grant money and supporting pure space restoration tasks.
“Debbie understands how parks and open spaces are valuable to our families’ well-being,” Hartwig wrote in her nomination of Gallagher for the Women of Distinction honor. “She is constantly involved in projects that enhance the life for everyone in our community.”
For Gallagher, her love of parks is in regards to the significance of play.
“It is just really important to play, to get out and to nurture your inner child,” Gallagher mentioned. “I love to spend time outdoors. I appreciate winter and love summer.”
In 2023, Gallagher accomplished her time period with the park board and was invited to serve on the Crystal Lake Parks Initiative Foundation, which helps the park district. Gallagher was part of the muse’s first fundraiser, the Crystal Lake Cardboard Regatta.
Hartwig mentioned Gallagher was precious due to her data about advertising and marketing, occasion planning and race day communications.
Gallagher mentioned it’s nice to become involved and work with others locally.
“I met so many people,” she mentioned. “I highly recommend volunteering for one of the boards.”
Gallagher mentioned the muse want to help development of an out of doors ball hockey rink. She will get animated speaking about the advantages of actions for young folks, and she or he’s spent her time on the enjoying fields together with her personal kids.
Through the years, she’s been a volunteer and coach with the native youth softball and youth soccer organizations. She mentioned among the best elements is seeing the young folks she as soon as coached and helped on the youth groups as they develop up locally.
Through her daughter Gretchen, Gallagher has helped with a number of cat rescue organizations, together with essentially the most recent, Purrfect Cat Rescue, fostering kittens and serving to to search out them eternally properties. She’s misplaced observe of the variety of litters they’ve raised however mentioned they’ve been fairly profitable to find properties for the kittens.
“It’s chaotic but fun,” she mentioned.
In 2023, she helped plan her Crystal Lake Central High School class fiftieth reunion – it additionally was the varsity’s centennial celebration yr – and welcoming again alumni from close to and much.
“It was one of the biggest turnouts for a 50th-year reunion,” she mentioned. “It was all smiles and laughing all night.”
She mentioned she is pleased with her highschool, noting that right this moment, the fourth technology of her household attends Crystal Lake Central. She has loved watching her 4 grandchildren attend the varsity and is pleased with their accomplishments.
The household enjoys recognizing pictures of earlier generations on the wall.
“I love our community,” Gallagher mentioned. “I love what I do, and that makes it so easy.”
