Rosa Escareño

Rosa Escareño, General Superintendent & CEO

As the General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District, Rosa Escareño manages one of the largest park systems in the country. The nearly $600M system has close to 9,000 acres of parkland, more than 600 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 11 museums, 8 golf courses, 7 harbors, two world-class conservatories and a sports stadium. She oversees a team of 6,000 year-round and seasonal workers providing direct services to nearly 400,000 residents.

During Escareño’s three-year tenure, she has led the District through transformational change building a stronger District, building trust, community wellbeing and economic vibrancy. She launched a new strategic plan; strengthened sustainable efforts; set strong hiring practices prioritizing youth; and established new health and wellness policies to improve lives. She has led a $500M economic development portfolio building new park amenities and maximizing connectivity and technology in all communities supporting families, Chicagoans and visitors who rely on recreational programs and special events.
 
Escareño is a lifelong public servant with 30 years of government experience and is considered a reformer and strategist, leading large-scale agency reforms that support families, strengthen communities, and build economic, income equity and business opportunities under four Chicago Mayors. Prior to her appointment at the Park District, Escareño served as the Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection where she championed shared economy licensing reforms, established the Office of Labor Standards and expanded small business economies.

Ms. Escareño holds a Master of Science in Communications from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Chicago. Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, she is a lifelong Chicagoan who resides on Chicago’s northwest side.
 


Phone:  (312) 742-4200
Email:  Superintendent.Escareno@chicagoparkdistrict.com