It took more than 200 hours of review preparation, peer review sessions and sheer determination for Woodridge Park District’s Superintendent of Planning and Development, Jenny Knitter, to pass all five sections of the LARE (Landscape Architect Registration Examination) in December 2010.

The LARE exam is a 17-hour test including multiple choice and graphic design problems that test applicants in five areas:

• Project and construction administration
• Inventory, analysis, and program development
• Site design
• Design and construction documentation
• Grading, drainage, and stormwater management

“Being a Registered Landscape Architect was a personal career goal, but more importantly it is a testament to my drive to do my best for the residents of the Woodridge Park District," Knitter said.

Jenny will celebrate her seventh anniversary with the Woodridge Park District this year. She received her B.A. in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois and was most recently named Village of Woodridge Outstanding Employee of the Year in 2008.

“We are proud to have on staff someone as dedicated to her field as Jenny Knitter," said Mike Adams, executive director for the Woodridge Park District. "She takes her job seriously and is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the Woodridge Community through her expertise in park planning and designs."