Your say - Crystal Lake: Reader-submitted essays
Crystal Lake has so much
What makes my hometown of Crystal Lake special?
Old friends who still make Crystal Lake their home and new friends met as we have grown as a community. The wonderful downtown with unique shops and restaurants.
Through past growing pains and now redevelopment challenges that face us, we never have lost our great small town feel. We have very benevolent residents who support the arts and many charitable endeavors.
We have a cooperative spirit between public and private entities that work together in moving Crystal Lake forward.
Add in great schools, parks and a myriad of wonderful special events and activities that offer something for all ages, and these are just some of the things that make my hometown special and a great place to raise a family.
Gary Reece
Director
Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce
Where do I begin!
I have lived in Crystal Lake for more than 30 years and wow, have things changed. Growing up in Crystal Lake on the north side of town, my favorite thing to do was hang out at Veterans Acres. I could play on the playground for hours, go sledding, ice skating, and my brother would beat me every time we played tennis. The park was the place to meet your friends.
We had one mall to shop for clothes. Joseph A. Spies was the favorite! The movie theater was downtown, which was a family luxury. The roller rink was a hot spot, where everyone rented skates. In the summer I would ride my bike across town just to go swimming at Main Beach. I played a lot of different sports, which were always offered at my school.
When my family would go into town, my parents personally knew who they were purchasing products and services from. We didn’t lock our doors at night and the neighbors were always around to borrow a cup of sugar. As an adult, it never crossed my mind to leave this great city.
I have been fortunate enough to meet my husband, who is also from Crystal Lake, and we are now raising two boys who are just as lucky as we were to go through the Crystal Lake school system.
Yes, we can all agree that so many things have changed in Crystal Lake. I can say I have a huge sense of pride for this community, and I am honored to tell people that I was raised in Crystal Lake. I can hope that my two boys have the same sense of love for their hometown that I do.
Carol Galizi
Chairwoman, Green Business Task Force
Moving here was the right choice
Our decision to move to Crystal Lake was one of our most important and best decisions. This is where we would raise and educate our children. Every day we are affirmed that this indeed was the best decision for our growing family.
Because of the talent and dedication of the staff and volunteers at School Districts 47 and 155, our children have the opportunity for a great education. Another opportunity Crystal Lake provides is the wealth of activities.
Many of us have our children enrolled in competitive sports, but in Crystal Lake there is so much more. At the Dole Mansion, Piano Trends, and Raue Center – to name a few – there are music, dance, voice and art lessons, and cooking classes. Besides organized activities, there are ample opportunities for everyone to enjoy the outdoors. One of Crystal Lake’s best-kept secrets is the trails of Sterne’s Woods. It is a paradise within our city.
What separates Crystal Lake from other great communities is its residents. The people of Crystal Lake are dedicated to improving the lives, not only of their families, but also the families of this community. This dedication is illustrated daily at our schools, fields, churches, and parks. The people of Crystal Lake are what truly make it a great community.
Barbara Wheeler
Crystal Lake, McHenry County Board
Crystal Lake is my home
The question has been posed to me, as to why I love Crystal Lake. My answer is always the same and can be summed up in three words. It’s my home.
When my wife and I were looking for a place to build our home, we had only two criteria, schools and space. I always wanted a big backyard for my children to play, with an excellent school system for them to learn. Boy, did we hit a home run with Crystal Lake.
I don’t believe we could have found better schools with teachers that offer the compassion, warmth and charm, as well as an excellent opportunity to learn at a high level, than here in Crystal Lake.
My daughter is currently attending, and thriving at Central High School (Go Tigers!). The opportunities presented to our children here in our school district are a gift. It’s like I tell my daughter, open as many gifts as you can, find the one you like and pursue it.
This brings me to my highest praise regarding Crystal Lake; we are not the only parents here that think this way. Our town is full of parents that want the same things for our children. We want our children to get involved. This is so easy for us to do, because so many children are involved.
We have made many wonderful lifelong friends here in Crystal Lake and been involved in many rewarding activities. Be it from our lake or our athletic fields, our outstanding schools and our involved children, Crystal Lake lives up to the words on the sign we see every time we enter our city. It is a beautiful place to live.
Craig Puhala
Crystal Lake
Fell in love after move
When I was 14, I wasn’t thrilled about my parents uprooting my life in Kansas City and moving to Crystal Lake. You would think that growing up in the heartland, I would be used to seeing cows and corn, but I actually grew up in the city.
Moving to Crystal Lake was a culture shock and a blessing. Seeing how the closest Catholic school was in Woodstock, I got to finally realize my dream of going to public school. I soon fell in love with Crystal Lake.
Going to the beach every day during the summer and learning how to downhill ski in the winter were new experiences for me. The first winter I lived here, there was a huge blizzard. I had never seen so much snow in my entire life. It was amazing to me.
It didn’t take long before I made lifelong friends that I would eventually stand up in their weddings and them in mine; raise our children together and have some wonderful grandchildren now.
Both of my children went to the same high school that I went to and they have set down deep roots here and will always consider this their home. It is ideal in many ways and you would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful city.
When I started running a few years back, I made it a regular course to run around our namesake lake. It just makes you fall in love with the city all over again.
Running on the North end during sunset is a sight to behold. It is only my brother and me who still live in Crystal Lake, my parents moved back to help extended family. I love going there to visit, but I will always consider Crystal Lake my home.
Louise Steinbach
Crystal Lake
A great place to raise kids
What makes Crystal Lake a great place to live?
I moved to Crystal Lake in 1990 to become the Crystal Lake Public Library Director, as a single parent with two sons, ages 7 and 10. An immediate bonus for my family was the Crystal Lake Park District child care program – extended time right at the school and great summer camps.
My sons received a very good education from District 47 elementary school through District 155 high school (Go Crystal Lake South!). I found the schools willing to work in tandem with me, through triumphs and challenges, to guide my sons throughout their years.
The park district also provided volunteer and employment experience for both of my sons, again through extended time and summer camps. I have no doubt this experience influenced both of their choices to become teachers. Crystal Lake offered recreation through our involvement with the Crystal Lake Soccer Association.
Through my professional life, I’ve found that the people of Crystal Lake value, appreciate, and make use of their public library; as a strong public library advocate, this has provided me with the professional energy to take care of our community treasure. The City of Crystal Lake provides excellent services and keeps our tax rates low. I appreciate the camaraderie among the members of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. Finally, the Raue Center for the Arts brings entertainment at an affordable price.
Kathryn I. Martens
Crystal Lake
