Nathaniel (Nate) Martin
First African American Commissioner for the Rockford Park District
Nate played a significant role in coordinating recreational and educational opportunities for youth. His life, his work, and his beliefs had a tremendous impact on area youth, and advanced racial unity in Rockford.
About Nate’s Life
Nate Martin successfully spent 28 years serving the children of Rockford as a teacher (in both elementary and secondary schools), middle school principal, and Director of Secondary Education. Through his work in District 205’s Office of Educational Accountability, Nate continued to advocate for quality education for all children in Rockford. He was assigned to a special project involving the 2001 desegregation lawsuit that led to racially balanced schools. He also volunteered his time and talent serving on the Rockford Charter School Initiative Steering Committee, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, On the Waterfront, Inc., the Golden Apple Foundation, and the St. Paul Academy School Board. He also served on the Rockford Park District Foundation Board, YMCA Black Achievers, Rockford Boys and Girls Club, United Way, Kiwanis International, Crusader Community Health Foundation, and Rockford Men’s Garden Club. Nate was a husband, father of two, grandfather, brother, and accomplished gardener. He passed away at the age of 78 on May 3, 2019.
Community Impact through Parks and Recreation
Once he retired from the Rockford Public Schools in 1994, Nate represented the citizens served by the Rockford Park District. Commissioner Martin was appointed in 1995, and served until 1997. He was elected to serve again in 1999, and re-elected in 2007. He served as president of the Park District Board 2004-2007, and in 2008 was appointed to the Illinois Association of Park Districts board.
During his time in recreation, Martin was instrumental in expanding the Park District’s services to meet the needs of youth and teens outside of school hours. He helped develop Friday Nite Rec Programs, After School Safe Zones, and KidZones. Nate was also instrumental in developing and evaluating the Masai Experience, a Park District summer program that placed a group of at-risk youth in a residential setting with mentors who modeled the values, skills, and attitudes needed to become productive citizens. Opportunities for community service, academic improvement, and positive recreational experiences were critical elements of the program.
Nate represented the Park District through a variety of projects; his leadership and ability to bring partners together was evident in the planning and development of the 50-acre site called Southwest Community Park, which is now known as Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park. He gathered input from citizens of southwest Rockford to make sure the park had the amenities they needed. Southwest Community Park was dedicated on Sunday, September 21, 2008.
Throughout his life, Nate never strayed from his commitment to help and support youth to grow into contributing, productive adults by engaging them in meaningful activities. He made it his mission to inspire youth to develop a vision of what they may become. He modeled what it meant to be a highly respected and successful Black professional and asked all of us to lead by example and model the values, skills, and attitudes needed to be productive citizens.
Thank you, Nate Martin - well done!
Nate often spoke at dedications and community celebrations, but he loved it best when he could volunteer at programs such as Levings Lakers, where he mentored youth by helping them learn how to fish.
Nate played in a celebrity street hockey tournament at Booker Washington Center in 2012.
Words of Wisdom from Nate at Southwest Community Park Dedication
“Partnerships are critical to make our neighborhoods great places to raise a family, where we work and play. We need to continue to work together to accomplish these big improvements and make the quality of life even better in our community.”
Awards and Recognition Received
In 2001, Martin received the Race Unity Award from the Institute for the Oneness of Humanity.
In 2010, Nate Martin was recognized with the prestigious Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award through the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association (IPRA).
Nate’s Impact on Others
“You are truly a man of inner strength and incredible value. I always knew you were sincere. Because of you, our Park District is a better place.” – Webbs Norman, former Executive Director
“Nate has been a true advocate for providing programs and services for youth, and in particular at-risk youth. He has been a champion of developing strong partnerships with the school district, Booker Washington Center, and providing free and reduced-fee services to keep young people occupied in positive leisure activities. Nate Martin has built a legacy that will live on in this organization for many years to come, and we will celebrate his many accomplishments.” – Commissioner Jack Armstrong, Rockford Park District
