HR1304 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1304 LRB099 22091 MST 49415 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Steve Scholten on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Arlington Heights Park District; and

WHEREAS, Director Scholten has been the Executive Director of the Arlington Heights Park District since 2008; he has served as Executive Director of a park facility for over 32 years and has dedicated his 40-year career to the field of parks and recreation; and

WHEREAS, During Director Scholten's tenure, the Arlington Heights Park District has been assigned the high Aaa credit rating from Moody's Investors Services since 2009; and

WHEREAS, Director Scholten guided significant improvements at Frontier Park in 2014 using a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and a major overhaul of the Camelot Park Community Center using another grant from IDNR; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, Director Scholten began the first major renovation of the Arlington Lakes Golf Course since its opening to the public many years ago, a renovation that will benefit both golfers and the park district when the course re-opens in July of 2016; and

WHEREAS, Director Scholten was instrumental in establishing an inter-governmental agreement with the Mount Prospect Park District and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to open the area's first dog park at Melas Park in 2014; and

WHEREAS, Director Scholten has earned many awards during his career; The Illinois Parks and Recreation Association awarded him their Profesional Award in 2003, and the Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his work with the Park District, Director Scholten has always found time to fill leadership positions with the local Chambers of Commerce, special recreation associations, park foundations, the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, and the National Recreation and Park Association; and

WHEREAS, Director Scholten has a special love for the game of basketball and officiated at the Illinois High School Association State Championship game in 2009; he was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as an official in 2012; and

WHEREAS, Director Scholten's retirement will be official on July 1, 2016; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Steve Scholten on his retirement as Executive Director of the Arlington Heights Park District, thank him for his years of service to the park and recreation community, and wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Director Scholten as an expression of our esteem and respect.