John Parks, president and chief executive officer of the Iowa State University Research Park, is leaving Iowa State for a different position in the fall.

Parks will fill the job of the director of the research park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“It’s a tough thing to leave,” he said.

“It was certainly a very difficult decision to make.”

But he added that he believes it will be a great career move.

Kim Russel, chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the ISU Research Park, said Parks will be missed.

“We accepted John’s resignation with regret,” Russel said. “We know [his] opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Parks was appointed president of the ISU Research Park in August 1997.

Prior to that, he was vice president of Dasher Management Corp. and a member of the Ames City Council.

There are more than 30 businesses located in the research park’s 43-acre Phase I development.

The 79-acre Phase II development is under construction.

During Parks’ tenure, the infrastructure was completed in the Phase II land development and a third multi-tenant facility was built.

The new facility adds 50,000 square feet of multi-tenant space. Also, 25 new tenant companies and research park affiliates have signed on during Parks’ tenure.

“Under John’s leadership, the research park has recorded impressive growth,” Russel said. “In addition, he has strengthened the important relationships between the park and Iowa State, the community and the state of Iowa.”

Russel said she believes “he’s really advanced the mission of the research park.”

Parks was active in supporting the park to the Legislature as well, she said.

The Board of Directors will announce an interim ISU research park president soon, Russel said.

Parks’ appointment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is effective Sept. 16.