Outgoing Wheeling Park District leader honored
As her tenure draws to a close, the longtime leader of the Wheeling Park District staff was publicly honored Tuesday night.
Two resolutions recognizing Executive Director Jan Buchs’ decades of service and pending retirement were read aloud during the evening’s park district board meeting. The first was from the parks board; the other was from the Illinois Senate and was courtesy of state Sen. Julie Morrison of Lake Forest, whose 29th District includes much of the Wheeling area.
Parks board President Sue Stein read the first resolution. It praised Buchs for contributing “so very much toward enhancement of the district and the betterment of the quality of life in the community.”
“It is with particular gratitude and sincere appreciation we salute Jan Buchs for her outstanding contribution and length of service,” the resolution concluded.
Stein presented Buchs with a copy of the resolution and a bouquet of red roses.
Noting that Morrison is in Springfield dealing with state business, Deputy Director Matt Wehby — the man set to succeed Buchs as executive director — read the Senate proclamation.
Buchs will retire from the district Friday. She joined the district as its first full-time aquatics manager in May 1993, shortly before the district’s popular Family Aquatic Center opened.
She was promoted to executive director in 2002.
Buchs has cited the $18.5 million renovation of the Community Recreation Center, the renovation of the Chevy Chase Country Club and the $37 million improvement project at Heritage Park among her most significant projects.
She also oversaw development of the plans for a new $30 million water park that soon will be built on Community Boulevard on the site of the Family Aquatic Center, which was demolished earlier this year to make way for its replacement.
After Stein finished reading the board’s resolution, Buchs shared heartfelt remarks with the panel.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in our time together,” Buchs said. “I thank you for your trust, support and unwavering commitment to excellence.”