Residents say Johnsburg is a gem for family activities
Johnsburg, a small, friendly town with good schools and lots of open space and parks, draws new homebuyers to the area while many who grew up in Johnsburg choose to settle in their hometown.
Christine Hauck knows first hand about family togetherness and community spirit in Johnsburg.
Hauck, a Realtor with Century 21 Roberts & Andrews, moved to Johnsburg when she was 14, later married her first boyfriend, and they've been married for 44 years. They have two children and six grandchildren. And they all live in Johnsburg.
The Haucks and their children were all married at St. John Church. "We love St. John," Hauck said. "We have a welcoming committee, so we welcome everyone who goes there. The church was restored in 1978, and it's such a beautiful church."
People in the community came together to build a house to auction off as a fundraiser for the church restoration. They donated their time to build the house and restore the church, Hauck said. "It was a huge community effort.
"When I show houses, I take my customers to the church and schools and show them around town. It's such a great community. It's a bedroom community where many drive to their jobs in the city or in the Schaumburg area."
When Hauck was in high school at McHenry, she and her friends hoped they'd have their own high school in Johnsburg someday for their kids, Hauck said. "Then it really did happen. It's a great school."
Housing in Johnsburg is also a big draw with small, affordable homes, bigger houses on large country lots and homes on the river, said Diana Mark, Realtor with RE/MAX Plaza.
"There are 203 homes on the market now with only seven under contract and an average sales price of $250,000."
There's no downtown area in Johnsburg, but people like the country feel and the schools. Situated just a few minutes south of the Wisconsin line, people go to Twin Lakes, Lake Geneva and Chain O' Lakes State Park, Mark said.
McHenry County Conservation Glacial Park is five minutes away, and it's gorgeous, Mark said. "It's the treasure of the county." The park has one of the highest points around, the delta kames, which were left as the glaciers retreated and melted during the last Ice Age.
Open space and recreation facilities are a priority for the village. Two of the larger parks have soccer, basketball and baseball facilities, playground equipment and picnic pavilions that can be reserved for family gatherings or special events.
Local sports organizations provide baseball, softball, soccer and football leagues for all ages. And the village sponsors the McHenry Area Youth Commission that provides other recreation for children.
The White Lightning Soccer Club offers recreational and competitive soccer for boys and girls. The traveling team is very competitive and great for kids, Mark said.
The village has developed a walking and bike path system to encourage pedestrian and bicycle movement between developments and linking them to schools and parks.
Festivals always bring people together. In the fall, everyone turns out for the Safuen und Spiel community festival and parade. Also in October they put on the Trail of History, which is a re-enactment of when the county was settled. A lot of schools bring kids to that, Mark said.
Other amenities include a newer library, a location close to Route 12 and all the shopping and businesses on Route 31, including a new Olive Garden restaurant, Mark said. "There's a lot of new shopping. For those who have lived here for years, it's a big deal because now they don't have to go to Crystal Lake."