Suburban parks veteran tapped to lead Arlington Heights Park District

The Arlington Heights Park District has picked the current executive director of the Northbrook Park District to replace retiring Executive Director Steve Scholten.

Rick Hanetho will take over leadership of the Arlington Heights Park District on June 7. The park board plans to formalize Hanetho's contract in closed session Wednesday night.

Hanetho, 52, grew up in the Northwest suburbs, started working for the Palatine Park District as a teenager and said he truly loves what he does.

"I've had an incredible career. I've never had a job other than working for a park district," he said Friday.

"I'm very passionate about this industry. I think the things we do and provide for communities, it changes people's lives."

Hanetho started his professional career at the Schaumburg Park District. He went on to become the deputy director of the Carol Stream Park District before taking the lead at the Northbrook Park District in 2008.

Hanetho said he is excited to join Arlington Heights.

"If there was one job that I would consider leaving Northbrook for, this is it," he added.

"Arlington Heights is really the only job I was interested in pursuing at this point in my career. It's an incredible community."

Scholten, whose last day is June 30, will overlap with Hanetho for a few weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

"I've known (Hanetho) for a long time and he is an outstanding parks and recreation director," Scholten said. "He is bringing a lot of experience with him to Arlington Heights. I expect he will do excellent work."

Hanetho is also on the board of directors for NSSRA - Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, and was the 2015 chairman of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.

He lives in Schaumburg with his wife and three children.

"I can't say how much I look forward to embracing the challenge and working with the board, the residents and the community as a whole to continue to deliver the highest quality parks and recreation services in the country," Hanetho said.