Wilmette Park District Welcomes New Board Commissioner Julie Adrianopoli

10/15/2025 

Wilmette Park District is delighted to welcome Julie Adrianopoli as the newest member of the Board of Park Commissioners. Following a thorough eight-week application and interview process that drew strong community interest, Julie was selected from a highly qualified group of candidates to fill the vacancy left by a departing commissioner. The Wilmette Park District Board of Commissioners officially appointed Adrianopoli at its October 13, 2025, meeting. Her term will continue until the next election process in 2027.

“Julie’s professional experience, community engagement, and enthusiasm for the Wilmette Park District’s mission made her an exceptional choice,” said Park Board President Patrick Lahey. “We’re thrilled to have her join the Board and help guide our continued commitment to recreation, stewardship, and community connection.”

A Longtime Resident Deeply Rooted in Wilmette
Adrianopoli has called Wilmette home since 2010, when she and her husband moved to the North Shore community drawn by its lakefront beauty, excellent schools and easy access to both “the L” and the Metra. Over the years, she and her family have immersed themselves in all that Wilmette offers, from early childhood programs and youth sports to summer camps and special events.

“We’ve loved raising our three boys here,” she shared. “Some of our best memories have been on the baseball and soccer fields, watching our kids grow as athletes and making lifelong friends along the way.” Today, her connection to Wilmette has grown even deeper, with her three senior parents now calling the community home.

Passionate About Wellness, Connection, and Longevity
Julie brings a strong interest in wellness and active aging, an area of personal passion that formed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I watched a documentary about longevity that really changed the way I think about health,” she said. “I began to appreciate how physical activity, social connections, and mental well-being all play critical roles in how we age and thrive.”

She believes the Park District is uniquely positioned to support those pillars of lifelong health for residents of all ages. “The District doesn’t just offer recreation, it creates spaces where people connect, recharge and find balance,” she explained. “Everything from senior fitness programming to playgrounds filled with young families, it’s inspiring to see how our parks help sustain the vibrancy of this community.”

Professional Expertise and Values-Driven Leadership
With over 25 years of experience across the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors, Adrianopoli brings a wealth of leadership and strategic insight to the Board. As founder and principal of JEA Consulting Group, she has built a career advising foundations, philanthropic organizations, and civic partners on designing programs that create lasting social impact.

Her professional reputation as a thoughtful collaborator, strategic thinker, and energetic leader will serve her well in her new role. “I look forward to leveraging my experience in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and philanthropy to help the Park District make decisions that balance equity, sustainability and cost-effectiveness,” she said.

A former faculty member at DePaul University, where she taught a course on Values-Based Leadership, Adrianopoli plans to bring those principles—integrity, transparency, and humility—to her work as a Park Board Commissioner. “The Wilmette Park District is already doing incredible things,” she added. “I hope to contribute to that foundation by helping to ensure every decision reflects the values and priorities of the community we serve.”

Love for Wilmette’s Parks and Traditions
When she’s not consulting or volunteering, you can often find Julie at Gillson Park, her favorite spot in Wilmette. “There’s a bench on the south side where you can see the harbor, the Baha’i Temple, Northwestern University, and Lake Michigan,” she said. “It’s surrounded by bird habitats and native gardens; it’s my place to think and recharge.”

Her favorite Wilmette tradition is the Independence Day celebration, where her family and friends gather within Gillson Park for the Yankee Doodle Dash, a day at the beach, and fireworks over the lake. “It’s one of those days that captures everything special about this community,” she said.

Looking Ahead
Adrianopoli joins the Board at an exciting time for Wilmette Park District, as several major projects and initiatives are underway. These include the Hibbard Park OSLAD Grant Project, the Community Recreation Center Restoration Project, and the development of the recently acquired Big Tree Lane property. Together, these efforts reflect the District’s continued investment in recreation, sustainability and community spaces that enhance quality of living for all Wilmette residents.

“I’m inspired by the momentum already underway,” she said. “Wilmette Park District has been a cornerstone of our family life, and I’m honored to help ensure that future generations experience the same sense of community, recreation and connection that makes Wilmette so special.”