Oak Hollow dedicated as Kay Wojcik Conservation Area

As a strong supporter of the Schaumburg Park District for many years, it was fitting the area dedicated to honor longtime Illinois legislator Kathleen "Kay" Wojcik is the same one she saw every day as a resident of Schaumburg.

Oak Hollow Conservation Area, which backed up to the Wojcik's house on Redwood Lane, was officially dedicated as Kay Wojcik Conservation Area at Oak Hollow in a ceremony Saturday, May 23.

"With the dedication of this park to Kay Wojcik, the Park District honors one of its own," said Jean Schlinkmann, executive director of the Schaumburg Park District.

"It's our pleasure to dedicate this park for all your work for park districts and service to special recreation," added Schaumburg Park District board president George Longmeyer.

The festivities included an opening by Schlinkmann and remarks by Longmeyer, Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson, Illinois Association of Park Districts president Ted Flickinger and retired Schaumburg Park District executive director Jerry Handlon. A reception and site tours followed the ceremony.

"No one has done more for parks, recreation and conservation than Kay Wojcik," said Flickinger. "This area will be here for eternity in honor of her name."

Wojcik served as a representative and senator in Illinois legislature for over 20 years. In her time in office, she was a strong supporter of the park district, repeatedly sponsoring it for Build Illinois funding.

In the mid-1980s Wojcik helped secure $250,000 to build the Meineke gymnasium. In 1993, the initial softball field/parking lot at Olympic Park was built with $750,000 of Build Illinois funds. In addition, the park district has received $1.954 million in Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grants with her help. An enthusiastic supporter of fundraising and nature conservation events, Wojcik has also been a personal contributor to park district preschools and Safety Park and served as a trustee for the Schaumburg Park Foundation. In 2001, Wojcik was honored as the Legislator of the Year by the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

"This is my home," Wojcik said of the area. "When I first moved here, I could have pitched a tent and stayed outside every night. No other community has something this special within the confines of residential homes. This is a place very dear to my heart."

Located between Cedarcrest Drive and Samoset Lane, south of Schaumburg Road, Kay Wojcik Conservation Area at Oak Hollow contains a 17 1/2-acre remnant of the original oak grove that first attracted settlers to the area. One of Schaumburg's finest natural areas, the site contains over 100-year-old oak and hickory trees, many rare and beautiful native wildflowers, wetlands, a restored prairie and a half-mile trail system that is accessible via Spruce Drive, Samoset Lane or Juniper Lane.