Lake Zurich gathers up accolades
Once a farming community, then a resort town, Lake Zurich today reigns as a popular Northwest suburb with affordable housing, lots of community events, excellent schools and plenty of parks.
Mary Ann Boland, resident and Realtor with Century 21 Roberts & Andrews, has lived in Lake Zurich for 26 years and never tires of singing its praises.
It's no wonder. Lake Zurich was selected by Frommer's as one of the top 100 best places to raise a family and by Business Week as one of the 25 best affordable suburbs in the country. The overall family feel, low crime rate, affordable housing, quality school systems, available resources and community festivals were just some of the areas cited for its high ranking.
When Boland is not selling real estate, you might see her in a boat on Lake Zurich, a private lake for residents and the community's centerpiece.
"The lake is nice because everyone knows everyone there. If you're a boater, you know all the boaters," Boland said. "You just bring in your water bill to show you're a resident, and you get free beach passes. It's a beautiful lake; a lot of people hang out there; and they really keep it nice."
Affordable housing is a big attraction for families moving to Lake Zurich.
"You can still get a decent four-bedroom house in the $300,000 to $350,000 price range," said Joe Heffernan, a resident and Realtor with RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest. "We have homes from $150,000 to $1 million, but for $300,000 to $350,000 you can still get a great home. We have a lot of solid neighborhoods where residents take care of their property.
"Also, from the real estate side, six years ago people would call all the time and ask what school district we were in because they wanted their kids to go to Stevenson High School. Now, during the last several years, people want to make sure they're in the Lake Zurich school system," Heffernan said.
"The schools have received many positive reviews, which has a lot to do with the sports programs with (Lake Zurich High School) all-state contenders from boys' football, girls' soccer and right down the line," Heffernan continued. "About five years ago, the high school added a performance arts center, which has one of the finest theater programs in the state."
Sports are big in Lake Zurich, where there's always a park with a ballgame going on. A lot of kids play baseball and soccer, and everyone seems to get excited about their teams.
When the Lake Zurich Bears went to state last year, there were cars lined up along Midlothian Road waiting for the team to return. And when Carmel High School's soccer team went to state, the Scoreboard Bar & Grill in town had a sign on the marquee wishing the team good luck. The restaurant's management knew some girls from Lake Zurich played on the team, and they wanted to support them, Boland said.
"This is a very community-oriented town. Some people have lived in two or three houses to be able to stay in the same community. I bet 90 percent of the resale is local people moving up to a larger house," she said.
Residents feel safe in their homes and outdoors in the community. There are bikers, joggers and people out walking their dogs at 11 p.m., Boland said. "I don't think anyone would say he/she doesn't feel safe here."
Lake Zurich was also recognized for its 41-acre Paulus Park where many hometown events take place, such as the Fourth of July Family Day and Ela Festival of Arts.
"With the lake and fireworks, the Fourth of July celebration at Paulus Park was really like old times when towns were towns," Boland said. "I don't feel like I'm in a metropolis."
For shopping, many national retailers, supermarkets, convenience stores, services and restaurants are located along Rand Road near Route 22. The downtown area along Route 22 (Main Street) and Old Rand Road is home to several popular restaurants, as well as many professional services.
Although the town's revitalization efforts have slowed, there are still plans on the table, Heffernan said.
"I go to several of the development meetings, and they want the look and feel of a community where you park your car downtown and walk to the barbershop, local store or restaurant," he said.
Lake Zurich is a community that reaches out to its residents.
"We had a family in town where an 18-year-old had cerebral palsy and the dad lost his job. They were struggling," Boland said. "I knew a band and spearheaded a fundraiser. Restaurants donated food. That's what Lake Zurich is like; you throw out the red flag and they're there. It's really a village.
"The community always seems to rally when there's a need, which I find very heartwarming."