Health and environmental activist Joyce Harant appointed to Peoria Park Board

June 16--PEORIA -- Joyce Harant has been selected to fill a vacancy on the Peoria Park Board.

A health and environmental activist, Harant has been an outspoken advocate for maintaining green space throughout the community. Recently, she has been an opponent of the proposed River Trail Apartments, slated for city-owned parkland near the RiverPlex Wellness and Recreation Center, which the Park Board voted to oppose though it has no jurisdiction.

Harant is a former director of Planned Parenthood and congressional candidate and current member of the Peoria CountyBoard of Health.

She was selected by the board to fill a seat vacated earlier this spring by Kelly Cummings, who served in the central district. Harant will serve the remainder of the term, expiring in 2019.

Following Cummings' resignation, prompted by a move out of state, the Park Board solicited applications for anyone interested and eligible for serving the remainder of her term.

Harant takes her seat on the Park Board as the district, under financial stress, is amid strategic planning under the leadership of executive director Emily Cahill, who took over the post last year after serving as assistant director. Budget deficits have prompted closure of one of the district's golf courses, restructuring of other facilities and reduction in staff in recent years as the board and administration look for a fiscally sustainable path forward.

"As a Peoria Park District trustee, I want to work with the trustees and staff to develop and implement feasible strategies to engage other community organizations and units of government in order to leverage our collective resources for the benefit of the Peoria Park District objectives and programs and those of other organizations," Harant wrote in her application to the board.

Laura Nightengale is the Journal Star's health and lifestyle reporter. She can be reached at 686-3181 or lnightengale@pjstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @lauranight.

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