Fourth to Feature Parade, Fireworks

Release Date: Jun. 28, 2007

By: Kenneth L R. Patchen, Pioneer Press Staff Writer
Highland Park's Independence Day Parade will have the theme "Highland Park Celebrates Diversity," and the grand marshal is resident Alexander Polikoff, a civil liberties, environmental and fair housing litigator.

Last year's parade marshal, WBBM Newsradio reporter John Cody, is back and will serve as the emcee for the parade.

The parade itself will feature new community groups, a second color guard and a decorated motor vehicle sponsored by Amdur Productions, the folks who host the Port Clinton Art Fair.

The Park District's Fourth Fest at Sunset Woods Park offers a setting for picnics as well as rides, a petting zoo, games and vendors with snacks, drinks and food. New this year is a Cicadamobile and the live music of Jukebox Band.

Fireworks at Wolters Field will follow selection of the winning band from Late Nite HP's second annual Battle of the Bands Rumble.

Independence Day activities start at 9:45 a.m. with a Children's Bicycle and Pet Parade marching and trotting west on Central Avenue from Central and St. Johns avenues. Children and critters will lead the community parade which itself will start at 10 a.m. from Laurel and St. Johns avenues. Both groups head to Sunset Woods Park where participants melt into the Park District of Highland Park's Fourth Fest, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no entry fee, although rides and other entertainment may have a cost.

A late afternoon community-wide calm precedes the 6:30 p.m. start of the Battle of the Bands Rumble at Wolters Field, 1080 Park Avenue West. Multiple bands compete, awards will be distributed and then Elgin's Mad Bomber Fireworks starts to explode more than $25,000 worth of taxpayer-financed pyrotechnics at about 9:15 p.m.

Parade Marshal Polikoff was previously involved with Martin Luther King Jr. diversity events presented earlier this year at the Highland Park Public Library.

"He's a strong symbol of leadership," said Mayor Michael D. Belsky. "He made his life work out of promoting economic, cultural and racial diversity. He's a real hero in Chicagoland. He's a quiet guy but incredibly articulate."

Polikoff was executive director of Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, a public interest legal organization, for 29 years. He is widely known as the lead plaintiff's counsel for the Gautreaux public housing litigation in Chicago.

The Gautreaux Court decision ruled governments can not segregate public housing and that it must be scattered throughout the community. That case changed how public housing is placed in neighborhoods.

Polikoff received his degrees from the University of Chicago and its law school. He is a former national board member of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Last year, Polikoff received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The American Lawyer magazine. He himself is the author of many articles as well as books, such as "Housing the Poor: The Case for Heroism," done in 1977, and "Waiting for Gautreaux: A Story of Segregation, Housing and the Black Ghetto," published last year by Northwestern University Press.

"I think the parade this year reflects the diversity of the community and the way we embrace it," said Donald Minor, Youth Service Program Supervisor. He is the city's parade co-chairman with Megan Selock at the Park District.

Lake County Marine Corps League 801, for the first time, joins the Highland Park Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4737, as the parade's second color guard unit. Also, in a return engagement, the Bolivian Dance Group will return with its spectacular costumed dancing.

New this year is a donated automobile from Fields Volvo of Highland Park, 250 Rt. 41, painted by some of the young artists who sell their work at the Port Clinton Art Fair in late August.

"Instead of a shiny red convertible Volvo," said Art Fair Manager Amy Amdur, "we're going to have a car covered with layers of red, white and blue paint. We thought it would be fun and give the kids some recognition."

The children who paint the car will be wearing smocks and berets and walking alongside it, she said. Goodies will be passed out along the route.

Minor said new community groups will be marching this year. The Music Arts School will march and perform as will Highland Park's Hispanic Folkloric Dancers of Immaculate Conception Church. Marching for the first time this year are the Highland Park Figure Skating Club and the Coho Swim Club.

Fourth Fest is a traditional community event for the Park District held regardless of weather conditions.

"I think it's a family friendly event where everyone enjoys themselves," said Kelly Huegel of the district staff. "We have more than 5,000 people who attend every year."

New this year, she said, is the presence of the Lake County Cicada Mobile, a museum about the bugs lifecycle and natural habits. She said the Fest will also have a live band this year, Jukebox Band, playing a variety of music.

Feeding the multitudes will be: Il Forno Pizza, The Highland Park-Highwood Lions Club with brats, corn-on-the-cob, and hotdogs, Jamba Juice, Kiwanis members with cotton candy and popcorn, Jack Pohn snow cones and Garrett's ice cream.

The carnival will feature rides managed by the district's camp counselors. These will include the Moon Walk monster truck and the clown, the trackless train, baseball toss, electric basketball game, quarterback toss, and a 22-foot inflatable slide. Children can check out the petting zoo and pony rides.

Asked to describe community reaction to Late Nite HP's Battle of the Bands Ruble, volunteer Terri Olian said, "It's been great."

She said people have filled Buhai Plaza at Port Clinton Square more than she's ever seen it as Bands challenge one another on June Friday evenings in the preliminary four-week count-down to the July 4th play-off. Olian said last year's first-ever pairing of fireworks and band performances was "Stupendously!" received.

"People enjoyed listening to the music and seeing them perform," she said.

Last year's audience was called upon to break the judge's tie-decision and, Olian speculates, may have to do so again this year if clarification is needed about who the winner is.

Parking for spectators of the Late Night HP Band Rumble and fireworks is available at the Highland Park Country Club, Highland Park Hospital's eastern lot, at Midlothian and Park Avenue West, and handicapped parking is available on the east side of Wolters Field, adjacent to the High School Administration Building.

An alternate location for watching fireworks is the Park District's Hidden Creek AquaPark pool where patrons can float in the pool and participate in Float & Watch the Fireworks from 8:15 to 10:45 p.m. for a $5 fee.

© Copyright 2005 Park District of Highland Park