As we enter the last quarter of our year, Darien continues to distinguish itself as a forward-looking community, balancing thoughtful economic development with a steadfast commitment to maintaining the exceptional city services our residents have come to expect. As we look forward to 2027 and beyond, our focus remains on fostering responsible economic growth that benefits both our residents and our local economy. Our completed Darien Strategic Plan will continue to be our guide as we transition into 2027.
Continued economic development is a key driver of the high quality of life in Darien. New and thriving businesses not only bring vitality to our community—they also generate crucial revenue through sales taxes. This allows us to keep our Darien property rate among the lowest in DuPage County, thus making Darien a more affordable place to live while enhancing the quality services our residents have come to expect. Such a practice is a “win-win” for both residents and the business community.
Let’s next discuss our excellent city services—at the heart of our city’s success are the dedicated professionals who serve Darien every day. Our Police Department is composed of highly trained and committed men and women, guided by exceptional and experienced leadership that sets high standards for professionalism, integrity, and community engagement. Their dedication to keeping our community safe is unwavering. In the future, we will continue to enhance their work through necessary training, acquisition of modern and up-to-date equipment, as well as hiring only those who meet the "Darien model.”
Equally outstanding is our Public Works Department—widely recognized as one of the best in DuPage County. Whether it is through our proactive streets program, our comprehensive backyard drainage program, or our outstanding snow removal efforts, their work ensures that our infrastructure is well maintained and our neighborhoods remain safe and accessible year-round. In the future, we will continue to look for ways to increase our services to our residents with efficient and cost-effective programs that will demand continued training, as well as our cost-effective purchase of equipment that serves to meet our need to maintain our growing infrastructure.
Our commitment to our residents goes beyond these essential services. We will continue to invest in enhancing the community experience through programs such as our popular summer concert series, our city beautification projects, as well as our working hand-in hand with a variety of local service, business and social organizations; such partnerships help to enrich the lives of all who live here and they further our shared goal of making Darien truly, “a nice place to live.”
Together, through thoughtful planning, strong leadership, and a shared sense of community, as we end 2026 and move toward 2027, Darien is poised for a bright future—one that honors our values while embracing progress.
I have personally spent countless hours in the basement of the Darien Historical Society, looking through photographs and old newspapers and learning about both the distant and more recent history of our community. Every time I visit, I discover something I did not know before. The volunteers who operate the Darien Historical Society are remarkably willing to share what they know and to help visitors understand the people and events that shaped Darien.
And yet, when the Historical Society holds an open house on a Sunday, it is not unusual for only one, two, or perhaps three people to come through its doors.
That is something I believe we should change!
I will join those who mourn the loss of Castle Eden. Its disappearance represents the loss of a physical piece of Darien’s past, and I understand why that is meaningful to so many people. But if we truly want to honor Darien’s history, we must do more than lament the loss of an historic building. We must take an interest in the history that remains.
Our history is not simply found in old buildings. It lives in photographs, newspapers, family stories, artifacts, maps, and memories. It is found in the stories of the families who settled here more than two centuries ago. It is found in the transformation of a rural area into the vibrant city we know today.
So, to those saddened by the loss of Castle Eden, I say: I am saddened too, but I encourage you to take the next step. Visit the Darien Historical Society. Spend time looking through its collections. Talk with people who have devoted countless hours to preserving our community’s story.
You may be surprised by what you discover! Darien has a rich history, and it deserves to be known- - not just when we are losing an historic landmark, but every day. One of the best places to begin that journey is right here in our own community, at the Darien Historical Society at 75th and Cass.
Our past helped create the Darien we enjoy today. Let us make sure we take time to understand it, appreciate it, and pass its stories on to those who will come after us.