John Gripp

John was born and raised in Rock Island. He and his wife, Lynn, have been married for eighteen wonderful years. They have two sons, Andrew and Ethan.  Their furry family member is their dog Miles.

 

John enjoys family, hiking, golfing, fishing, swimming, boating - basically anything outdoors!

 

John’s first job was a lifeguard at the old Rock Island YMCA (now RIFAC). After graduating from college, he returned to work at the RI Parks and Rec Department as the Aquatic Director. From there, he grew from Superintendent of Recreation, then Assistant Director, to the Director of Parks and Recreation for Rock Island.

 

His philosophy for life: “Eat, Drink and Be Merry!”  - Dave Matthews.

 

Why is he part of the Foundation? “I am part of the Foundation because it is critical to a successful future for the Department.  There can be a lot of uncertainty as administrations come and go, so a strong Parks Foundation is key to remaining stable. Plus, I love Rock Island and all of the awesome parks and facilities we have!”

 

Parks and recreation are an essential component of any city. This can often get overlooked during challenging financial times.  Parks attract people to live in and visit a community. The parks, recreational programs, and facilities offer essential experiences that appeal to a diverse range of people. Parks and recreation opportunities stimulate our local economy, and there is data to support this.”

 

What the board knows about John:  He has a great sense of humor and loves to pull pranks!