Al Larson's farewell to Schaumburg: We set out to create something special

You may not know this but before I was Schaumburg's village president, and many years before I entered into a life of public service, I was a writer.

For three years, I wrote a freelance column on nature for Ohio's Sunday edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Writing has always been, and still is, a passion of mine.

But when asked to reflect on my 32 years as mayor, to jot down some parting thoughts about our great community, I may have underestimated how difficult this would be.

How do you sum up a career that has given me the opportunity to do what I love?

With rapid growth and development in the '50s and '60s, my predecessors were wise to think ahead and plan areas of the community that would be dedicated to industrial, commercial and office development. The landscape was changing dramatically at that time, with homes and subdivisions popping up to create neighborhoods, and expressways being constructed to connect areas and regions to one another.

In 1975, I was elected village trustee after serving as an appointed member of Schaumburg's zoning board of appeals, the environmental committee, and as the director of public relations. I wanted to get more involved in the community because I wanted to help shape the future of what I knew was destined to be a great village.

At that time, Woodfield Mall was in its infancy, having opened several years earlier, and our village had a population of about 16,000.

After three re-elections to continue serving as trustee, I was presented with an opportunity to run for village president in 1987. It's funny to think that one decision so many years ago has had such an impact - not only on my life - but on everyone who lives, works and visits here today.

By working together with village trustees, individuals and organizations who believed in Schaumburg's potential like I did, we set out to create something special. We welcomed economic development, from small establishments to global international headquarters. And we embraced the community that was quickly growing around Schaumburg's main corridors.

I felt it was important that we didn't lose sight of the fact that individuals and their families were making Schaumburg their home. As a resident of this community, I wanted to make sure the village offered the very best in amenities.

It's the chief reason why I helped adopt a comprehensive bikeways plan in the village; broadened cultural programming such as theater, arts and festivals; and refocused revitalization on Town Square Shopping Center.

And while Schaumburg grew in size and stature, I wanted to make sure we appreciated nature and history, both of which tell the early narrative of our community. To this day, I am most proud of serving as one of the founders of Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary, which preserved 135 acres of natural

area so that it could be cherished and enjoyed by those who wanted to remember Schaumburg's beginning as a small farming community.

Inspired by former leaders such as Bob Atcher and Russ Parker, I felt it was important that our board continue making decisions that always had the community's best interest at heart. It's one of the reasons we brought baseball to Schaumburg, initiated the development of the Schaumburg Convention Center, and acquired Schaumburg Regional Airport as an asset for aviation, transportation and long-range economic development.

Schaumburg is truly a one-of-a-kind place. We're so fortunate to have this wonderful community that provides high quality goods and services for people to enjoy.

Because life is meant to be enjoyed.

I think back when I was a kid in Chicago, playing baseball in the vacant lot across from my house (in my neighborhood we called it the prairie).

There would come a time in midsummer when the baseball would be so good, the fun would be so intense, the spirit of the game would be so all-consuming, that we just didn't want the sun to go down.

If we could just freeze those last minutes of light, the game could go on and on - forever.

And that's baseball. It is the only game where time doesn't matter. It is the only game where if one hits good enough, if one plays good enough, the game could go on forever.

And I think that is why baseball captures the imagination. In some form or another, we all would like the game to go on forever. We all would like to freeze the light, stop the sun from going down and recapture and keep that feeling of boyhood or girlhood that we all knew - to be able to laugh and play and be with good friends in the warm summer of our lives.

Baseball does that. This is the way it should be. About family and friends and sunlight and summer. About being safe - and coming home.

As I prepare to leave office, I think back again to that time as a kid in Chicago, and to a certain extent, I feel the same longing. I wish it could go on forever.

But this isn't baseball. It's life and it's public service and the sun goes down eventually.

And so after 32 years as your mayor, I wish you a fond farewell and know that when one door closes another one opens.

Before I go, I would be remiss if I didn't thank my village board, the members of our boards and commissions, and village staff for working together over the past three decades so that Schaumburg could continue to be the town I will always love.

Last, but not least, I want to thank you, the community, for allowing me to serve as your village president. I am forever humbled and grateful for your endless support over the years.

This journey has been a labor of love, and I look forward to sharing in our village's continued success as part of the next chapter in our story.

See you around town,

Schaumburg Village President

Al Larson