Deerfield Park District is Recognized Nationally as a 2023 Best Workplace for Commuters

Deerfield Park District has been named one of the 2023 Best Workplaces for Commuters for offering exceptional employee commuter benefits.

Deerfield Park District is among a select group of workplaces in the United States that have achieved the Best Workplaces for Commuters National Standard of Excellence by providing exceptional commuter benefits. Deerfield Park District offers employees several commuter benefits, including:

• a Telework or Compressed Workweek Program of which 20% of our full-time staff participate in. By not commuting to work an average of 1 day per week, less Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is being emitted into the environment. That amounts to approximately 300 pounds of CO2 EACH WEEK! As a reference, 19.4 pounds of CO2 is emitted per every gallon of gasoline of a single occupancy vehicle (per US EPA).
• encouraging carpooling, taking mass transit, and walking or biking to work. This mileage is tracked through a commuter program tracking form and every month a raffle is held for everyone who participates in this option.
• access to a free ride home in case of an emergency.
• the Deerfield Park District also has an Employee Transportation Coordinator to provide assistance with commuter program questions and to investigate future program options and opportunities to increase commuter benefits.

“Deerfield Park District is one of the top employers in the nation offering high-level commuter benefits to their employees,” said Julie Bond, Program Manager, Best Workplaces for Commuters. They give their employees the support they need to get to work and be at their best before, during, and after their workday.”

“We are extremely proud about our progressive commuter benefit program that saves employees time, money, and stress,” said Jeff Nehila, Executive Director of the Deerfield Park District. “Our benefits give us a competitive edge in employee recruitment and retention while helping reduce traffic congestion and negative environmental impact.”

The Best Workplaces for Commuters program offers designated organizations access to a range of support services to assess and promote non-driving commuting of employees, including organizational assessment and implementation tool-kits, web-based tools and webinars, staff training and information exchange.

 

About Deerfield Park District – deerfieldparks.org The Deerfield Park District’s mission is to provide outstanding parks, services, facilities and recreation programs that enrich lives, promote healthy living and inspire memorable experiences. Our goals center on parks and facilities, recreation, community engagement, environmental stewardship and fiscal management. We provide safe, well-maintained and updated parks and facilities to equitably meet the needs of the community. We enrich lives and build a healthier community through social, cultural, developmental and recreational based programs and services for persons of all ages. We engage the community through extensive marketing, facilitating customer feedback and enhancing partnerships and collaborations with local governments and other service providers. We preserve, protect and maintain natural resources, parkland and open spaces. We manage financial resources efficiently and equitably to ensure fiscal strength and long-term stability.

About Best Workplaces for Commuters bestworkplaces.org

Best Workplaces for Commuters is the national authority on recognizing and assisting workplaces that provide exceptional commuter benefits to employees. More than a recognition program, the Best Workplaces for Commuters program provides support needed to create and sustain an employer-provided commuter benefit program, including online assessment tools, advisory services, case studies, tool-kits, web-based tools, webinars and training. Best Workplaces for Commuters represents over 600 workplaces with Best Workplaces for Commuters designation representing over 2-million employees. The Best Workplaces for Commuters program is managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR)  at the University of South Florida with support from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

About Center for Urban Transportation Research cutr.usf.edu

Since its inception, CUTR has become internationally recognized in transportation research, education and technology transfer/training/outreach center, with a focus on producing products and people. Our work supports transportation agencies, the transportation profession and community, policy makers, and the public. CUTR provides high quality, objective expertise in the form of insightful research, comprehensive training and education, effective technical assistance and in-depth policy analysis, that translates directly into benefits for CUTR’s project sponsors.  CUTR’s faculty and students combine academic knowledge and extensive “real world” experience in developing innovative, implementable solutions for all modes of transportation.  The multidisciplinary research faculty includes experts in engineering, planning, computer science, economics, public policy, public health, and geography.  CUTR logs nearly $20 million per year in expenditures through contracts and grants to support its research, education, training and technical assistance missions. CUTR is home to the National Institute of Congestion Reduction.  In 2020, CUTR was competitively selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation as the national university transportation center focused on congestion.