Arlington Hts. park district leader to retire
Roger Key's first role with the Arlington Heights Park District was more about teenagers in trouble then it was parks.
In 1973, Key worked the 4 p.m. to midnight shift watching over the village's parks. He worked with the police department to keep teens who were either drinking or doing drugs out of the parks late at night.
"It was pretty frustrating," Key said. "Sometimes they'd get mad and come back the next night and break some windows."
After a few years, Key was promoted to assistant superintendent of recreation and in 2002, he was named executive director of the park district. On Thursday Key announced he will retire from the park district, effective June 2008.
"Father time has crept up on me," said Key, who is 60. "I want to retire while I still have the energy to try new things."
One of Key's proudest accomplishments was the $6.75 million rehab of Pioneer Park, which is still under construction
The new, one-story Pioneer community center will be 22,450 square feet and include an 8,910-square-foot gymnasium and five multipurpose rooms. The existing community center and maintenance building were demolished. The project should be completed this fall.
The existing Pioneer Park center is almost 50 years old, second in age only to Recreation Park. It is the first of five park centers scheduled to be redone.
Key lives with his wife -- a middle school teacher -- in Lake Zurich. He grew up in central Illinois and graduated from Western Illinois University. Prior to coming to Arlington Heights, Key was a recreation supervisor with the Illinois Department of Corrections where he was in charge of recreational activities for boys.
The park board will begin the search process shortly to fill Key's spot at the Arlington Heights Park District.
Key is the second high profile Arlington Heights official to resign this week.
On Wednesday, Lynn Stainbrook resigned from her position with the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, effective immediately. Stainbrook led the library for three years.