The Montgomery Fest Committee is proud to announce that longtime public servant and community champion Jim Pilmer, former Executive Director of the Fox Valley Park District (FVPD), will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Montgomery Fest Parade on Sunday, August 17.
Pilmer’s connection to Montgomery runs deep. On his very first day as FVPD Executive Director in 2015, his first meeting was with Montgomery Mayor Matt Brolley. “People often think Fox Valley Park District is just Aurora, but the volume of what FVPD does in Montgomery is massive, especially with the Stuart Sports Complex located here,” Pilmer said.
Serving as FVPD Executive Director from November 2015 until his retirement in December 2023, Pilmer guided one of the largest park districts in Illinois—spanning Aurora, North Aurora, and Montgomery—through years of transformative growth. His leadership shaped recreation, open space, and quality of life for tens of thousands of residents.
Pilmer’s Montgomery ties go back decades. He fondly remembers volunteering at the Village’s first Carp Derby in 1983 and has been a steadfast supporter of Montgomery’s stretch of the Fox River ever since. He was a driving force behind the renovation of Montgomery Park, championing an intergovernmental agreement that allowed the Village to manage improvements and maintenance. At the same time, the park remained under the ownership of FVPD.
As Grand Marshal, Pilmer will lead the parade procession south on Main Street, east on Jefferson, and north on River Street, concluding at the grandstand in front of Village Hall.
Legacy of Service and Impact | Throughout his nearly three decades in public service, Pilmer left a lasting mark through major projects and community initiatives, including:
- Transformative Capital Investments – Led projects such as The Barn at Blackberry Farm, The Wilds at Red Oak Nature Center, and six new neighborhood parks.
- Expanded Trails and Natural Areas – Advanced Illinois Prairie Path paving, riverfront land acquisitions, and pollinator habitat expansion.
- Montgomery Park Revitalization – Advocated for riverbank cleanup, shaded structures, and memorial monuments.
- Blackberry Crossing West Park – Secured OSLAD grant funding for renovations.
- Regional Connectivity – Championed the future pedestrian bridge over Route 30 and bike path expansions, including the Gilman Trail, enhancing access to the Stuart Sports Complex.
For more information about the upcoming Montgomery Fest, taking place August 15-17, please visit the montgomeryil.org website.