A matter of honor

Winding Creek Park in Naperville is currently undergoing a major renovation, including new trees and a bike path, baseball diamond, playground, and soccer field. But some folks in the neighborhood believe now is the time for something else besides a facelift: a new name.

With Veterans Day approaching, park neighbor Renata Gozdziak is the self-appointed point person for an initiative to name the park after one of its own. Former Naperville resident Jack Hennessy, who grew up in the neighborhood, was killed while serving in Iraq in October 2004. And Gozdziak hopes the right people will agree to rename Winding Creek Park in Hennessy’s honor.

“When Jack Hennessy returned home, we held a memorial for him, and the number of people who had luminaries out in their yard was just incredible,” Gozdziak recalled. “I’m sure that the events of 9/11 affected a lot of people, and Jack felt he wanted to do something. He was killed at the age of 21, and people here were just overwhelmed. He was so friendly and so outgoing.”

In recent months, as renovations began to take place at the park, Gozdziak said she began to get an idea and decided to approach members of her local homeowners association regarding her plan.

“I talked about the renaming idea with members of the homeowners association and got a lot of positive feedback,” she said. “They gave me a number of ideas about how to go about it and who I would have to contact.”

Cindy Hennessy, Jack’s mother, said she just learned about Gozdziak’s idea a few days ago and understandably was moved by the suggestion.

“Jack died on Oct. 1, and whenever that date comes around, I think people just naturally think about him,” she said. “Jack enlisted back in August of 2001, about a month before the United States was attacked. There was no connection to his being in the military at that time with what happened, but this was something he always wanted to do.”

Cindy Hennessy said being a soldier “was his calling,” and that she and her family learned about his real accomplishments only after his death.

“There have been so many stories about him we never learned,” she said. “Jack was actually working as a sniper, and he actually became a sergeant before he was killed in a much quicker time than most people who serve in the military. He loved being a soldier.”

Gozdziak said she has a short window of time to submit an article to the homeowners’ monthly newsletter about her initiative, and her next move is to attend a park district meeting Nov. 12, where she hopes to push the envelope further.

“I’ve e-mailed some of the park district board members, and so far, I haven’t received an official response,” she said. “I figure going to a meeting so close to Veterans Day would be perfect timing. I think the feeling is that if the board agrees to rename the park, it might set a precedent. But my feeling is that this is a neighborhood park, and not a place that people all over Naperville use.”

She set up a Web site — www.remember-jack-hennessy.com — to get others on board with the park idea.

The Naperville Park District did name one of its facilities Sgt. David M. Caruso Memorial Park in the Longwood neighborhood. Caruso, a recon ranger, was killed Nov. 9, 2004, in the act of rescuing a team member while on a mission in Fallujah, Iraq.

Cindy Hennessy said a plaque with her son’s name was placed in the park not long after he died, and that regardless of how things turn out, she’ll be at peace.

“If the renaming happens, I’ll smile and I know it would mean a lot to Jack,” she said. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of support from people in the area and I personally have a strong faith. I’ll understand regardless of how this works out.”

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	renata gozdziak wrote: I have been impressed and overwhelmed by the great comments, phone messages and personal e-mails that I have received supporting the idea to rename Winding Creek Park. The question I have heard over and over again is:: What can I do to help? There are 3 things that would help tremendously 1.) Contact your Naperville Park Board to voice your support. Their e-mail addresses are down below. 2.) Pass the word to your friends and neighbors who are Naperville residents to help gather support for this idea. 3.) We will be requesting that all households in the Winding Creek – Maplebrook South – Maplebrook ll subdivisions fly red-white and blue ribbons in front of their homes to show their support for this idea. This will be after November 1st, so it does not interfere with Halloween decorations. Naperville Park Board Members are :: Suzanne Hart , Gerry Heide, Ron Ory, Mike Reilly, Andrew Shaffner, Marie Todd and Kirstin Young Emails for Park Board Members:: shart@napervilleparks.org, gheide@napervilleparks.org, rory@napervilleparks.org, mreilly@napervilleparks.org, ashaffner@napervilleparks.org, mtodd@napervilleparks.org, kyoung@napervilleparks.org Renata Gozdziak 630-927-6669 bluzin1@aol.com 10/21/2009 7:18 PM CDT on suburbanchicagonews.com Recommend Report Abuse
	linda radtke wrote: I would love to see this happen. Jack was such a fine young man. He and his family have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. 10/19/2009 11:57 AM CDT on suburbanchicagonews.com Recommend Report Abuse
	stan wojtasiak wrote: Error in this morning’s Sun in article renaming park for soldier. Caruso Memorial Park in Longwood Sub-division is in unincorporated Naperville. Park Dist. has no jurisdiction there. The Park was a joint project between the Longwood homeowners and DuPage County. The county owns the lot and allowed the homeowners to turn it into a park dedicated to David Caruso who’s parents live in Longwood. No county funds were spent on the park.The homeowners donated their time and money to landscape and maintain the park. 10/19/2009 7:27 AM CDT on suburbanchicagonews.com Recommend Report Abuse