Rosa Escareño

As the General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District, Rosa Escareño manages one of the largest park systems in the country. The $475M system has nearly 9,000 acres of parkland, more than 600 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 16 historic lagoons, 11 museums, 8 golf-courses, 7 harbors, two world-class conservatories and one sports stadium.  During Escareño’s three-year tenure, she has strengthened community vibrancy through renewed equitable sustainable efforts; and has led the District through transformational change building on inclusion and improving the lives of 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 working class families, strengthen communities, build economic and income equity, and grow small business opportunities under three 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.