A multipurpose room at Naperville Park District’s Fort Hill Activity Center will bear the name of a former Naperville lawmaker who left his mark on the parks community and championed recreation outlets for children and adults with special needs.
The Naperville Park Board on Thursday named Room 4 as the Harris Fawell Multipurpose Room in recognition of Fawell’s contributions to special recreation and support for the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association and Naperville Park District.
Fawell, who died in November at age 92, sponsored legislation when he was in the Illinois Senate from 1963 to 1977 that enabled Illinois park districts to levy a special tax to fund recreation facilities those with special needs.
The room at the Fort Hill center hosts programs for the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association.
Naming the room after Fawell was first introduced to the park board Jan. 20, and the 60-day period for the public to provide comment began Feb. 10. The district received no concerns during the 60 days, district Director of Planning Eric Shutes said.
Fawell is known for his efforts to require developers to donate park land, Shutes said.
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Although his legislation was defeated in the General Assembly, Fawell’s efforts led to Naperville City Council’s landmark land cash donation ordinance that became a model for communities throughout Illinois and the country.
“This innovative ordinance set a national example and has provided parks and recreation facilities that Naperville residents and their families enjoy on a daily basis,” Shutes said in a memo to the park board.
In addition to his tenure in the state legislature, Fawell served seven terms in the U.S. House in the 13th Congressional District and worked in a private law practice, where his clients largely were municipalities and park districts.
The multipurpose room isn’t the only park facility in Naperville honoring Fawell.
In 1999, the district dedicated Harris Fawell Park at 1120 Fort Hill Drive, just north of 75th Street and adjacent to Indian Prairie District 204’s Cowlishaw Elementary School.
The location was considered appropriate because of Fawell’s close relationship with fellow Republican leader, state Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw, also of Naperville.