We are happy to report that the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Park District of Highland Park for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.  This is the 32nd consecutive year the Park District has received the award.   The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve.

Last October, the Recreation Center of Highland Park was honored to serve as GenderCool Project’s location for a recent docu-story. With generous support from Nike, the GenderCool docu-story is now a commercial that will run on several national networks.

The GenderCool Project is a youth-led movement bringing positive change to the world. The Champions are helping replace misinformed opinions with positive experiences meeting transgender and non-binary youth who are thriving.

Check out the commercial that is running now:

As of February 28, Governor Pritzker lifted the state’s face mask mandate based on the continued decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and the increase in available ICU beds across Illinois.

While the Park District of Highland Park strongly encourages everyone to make a conscious decision regarding their health and safety, we are following these new guidelines as we have done throughout the pandemic and have moved to a “mask optional” position in Park District facilities and programs for both participants and staff.  Additionally, the Park District is following the North Shore School District 112 mask-optional position for all our youth programming, including pre-school-aged programs.  

We understand that some individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask, and we ask that everyone be respectful of one another’s decisions.  Bullying or harassment regarding masking/non-masking will not be tolerated.  As a reminder, even though we are transitioning to a new mask optional position, the Park District will continue taking measures to keep our facilities, staff, and participants as safe as possible. 

Remember, to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, consistently follow the Lake County Health Department guidelines:

• Wherever you go, you should always follow public health guidelines, including the 3 Ws until you are fully vaccinated:
  • WEAR A MASK INDOORS 
  • WASH YOUR HANDS
  • WATCH YOUR DISTANCE 
• Get vaccinated! Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to COVID-19 or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system, so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Getting vaccinated and following the CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.
• Stay home if you are sick. If you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, stay home. Distance yourself from others in the household and, if possible, stay in your own bedroom and use your own bathroom. If your symptoms worsen, call your healthcare provider. Do not walk into a healthcare facility, urgent care clinic, or hospital before calling. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. If your doctor believes that you need to be tested for COVID-19, your doctor can refer you to a testing site.  If you do not have a primary care provider, please contact the Lake County Health Department at (847) 377-8800. Testing can currently be done free of charge at 102 W. Water St. in Waukegan, IL, between 8 am – 4 pm. Testing is also available at other locations https://dph.illinois.gov/testing

If you have any COVID-19 questions, call the Illinois COVID-19 hotline at (800) 889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. You may also want to consider signing up for updates from the Lake County Health Department. 

As the local, state, and national landscapes continue to evolve, the Park District will remain vigilant and continue to keep you informed.  

Plan Your Spring Adventures

Our Spring Guide is now part of our newly designed website.  Browse and sign up for events, memberships, passes, and programs directly from the website. No more flipping through pages on a hard-to-read digital brochure and we are saving trees by not printing a seasonal brochure! 

Get the most out of springtime with our:

• Spring Break Activities 
  • Junior Tennis Camps
  • Orienteering
  • Spring Seekers
  • Stories in the Woods
  • and more!
• New “Fitness Your Way” membership options 
• Hidden Creek AquaPark Early Bird Pool Pass Sale
• Rosewood Beach and Lakefront Parking Pass Sales & Information
• and More!

Stunning!  A huge congratulations to Highland Park’s own Jason Brown, who performed flawlessly last night in the men’s figure skating short program at the 2022 Winter Olympics.  It was his personal-best short program performance.  Jason Brown performs the men’s figure skating free skate program this Wed., Feb 9, at 7:30 pm.

Go Jason!!!   

Welcome to Our New Website & App!

We’ve got a whole line-up of new online experiences for you! Now you have an easier way to learn about our Park District, find important information, and get your transactions done faster so you can move on with your day. 

New Website

Our new website was designed with a fresh new look and feel, improved functionality, and a more enjoyable viewing experience no matter what device you are using. The new site is jam-packed with handy new features and carefully organized based on our users’ preferences, including:

• A new home page layout with resources including a news blog, monthly event calendar, and seasonal quick links to the information you use most.
• Find information that is easy to access about our facilities, programs, rental venues, events, and much more. And, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, just type a few keywords in the search bar.
• The new online Park Shop features cool Highland Park swag – perfect for gifts or fun goodies for yourself. Best of all, proceeds from the shop benefit our Parks Foundation SMILE and FYI scholarship programs. 
• Our favorite feature is the new integrated seasonal program guides. No more flipping through pages on a hard-to-read digital brochure. Plus, we are saving the trees by not printing our guide.  All our seasonal program information is now a featured part of the website – allowing you to peruse and sign up for events, memberships, and programs. To view new Spring information, click here.

Hold on to your hats.  There is more! 

We’ve got a new App!

Connect with your park district! Download your new Park District app and have all the information you need at the touch of a button. The app is your destination for:

• Virtual Passes – Add all your passes to your app for a quick and easy scan-ins at Rosewood Beach, Hidden Creek AquaPark, and the Rec Center. 
• Sports & Group Fitness Schedules – Check game times and locations, and your favorite fitness class times.
• Facility Information & Conditions – Access facility hours, locations, contacts, and timely information such as a time change or an emergency closure due to weather. 
• Interactive Map –Search our map by park name or amenity.  Looking for a playground appropriate for a 5-year-old or an excellent place to catch a fish — we’ve got it. Each park page includes the street address, hours, size, and even the park’s history. 
• Registration – View program options and register right from your app.
• Events & Meetings – There is always something going on at your park district – get a comprehensive listing of events and important meetings, including details and locations. You can even favorite an event or add it to your electronic calendar.  
• Push notifications – You choose the types of information you want to receive so you will never miss an important update or message.
• Promotional Coupons – Exclusive only to our app users! Receive valuable coupons from businesses in Highland Park and the Park District.   

Download the app before December 31, 2022 and receive a $5 coupon you can use at any Park District location (some restrictions apply). 

We are so excited for you to experience our new website and app first hand, and let us know what you think. Check out the graphic and video below that highlight the new features and how to navigate the new website and app to get you started. 

The Board of Park Commissioner’s monthly meetings are moving from Tuesday nights to Wednesday nights. The Park Board’s regular January meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, January 26. On a forward-going basis, the Park Board will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month and have a workshop (meeting of the whole) on the second Wednesday of each month. 

To view the Park Board’s meeting schedule, agendas, videos, and minutes, click here. 

Congratulations to Centennial Ice Arena’s own Jason Brown for being named to the U.S. 2022 Olympic Figure Skating Team. A one-time resident of Highland Park and graduate of Highland Park High School, Jason learned to skate at a young age. When he was just five years old, his mother registered him in the Park District’s Learn-to-Skate tot program at Centennial, and he skated and trained at the ice arena early in his career. As his skill on the ice progressed, he began competing and succeeding in major skating competitions. In 2013, Jason became a World Junior Silver Medalist, and in 2014 he was selected to represent the United States on the men’s figure skating team at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
The team brought home a bronze medal. 

Nathan Chen and Vincent Zhou join Brown on the U.S. figure skating team for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing from February 4 – 20.
To view the 2022 Winter Olympic Games schedule, click here. Check back to this website for updates regarding Jason Brown during the Games. Best of luck, Jason! 

There are so many things that make living in Highland Park special. We have an amazing and supportive community, beautiful landscapes, and the best location in the Midwest, right on the shores of Lake Michigan. 

Big plans for a $2.5 million improvement at the Park Avenue Boating Facility are in the works.   The project, is estimated to begin in Fall 2022 and be completed by Spring 2023 and will include a new breakwater and  boat launch.   The new breakwater will replace the existing structure that has outlived its useful life and the new launch will replace the existing launch that collapsed in 2021. 

The Parks Foundation of Highland Park, the Park District, and a group of committed Highland Park residents are determined to see this project become a reality—funding will come from Park District funds, a potential grant from the state of Illinois, and $300,000 in individual donations.

A generous individual has stepped up to offer up to $150,000 in matching funds to see that you and I can safely enjoy walking and boating at Park Avenue Beach for years to come.

Including matching funds, right now, the Foundation is more than 66% of its way to the goal with $204,000 in individual donations. 

As you consider your philanthropic giving for this year, please consider a gift of any amount to support the Park Avenue Breakwater & Boat Ramp.  Donors will receive the following recognition: 

• $20,000 + Donation – Donor receives prominent recognition with a personalized message on a bench on the Park Avenue Breakwater
• $10,000 + Donation – Donor receives prominent donor recognition with a personalized message on the Park Avenue Breakwater
• $5,000 + Donation – Donor receives prominent donor recognition on the Park Avenue Breakwater
• $200 + Donation – Donor receives recognition at the Park Avenue Boating Facility

You will be contacted in Spring 2022 with specific details on your donation recognition. For additional information, please get in touch with Liz Gogola at lgogola@pdhp.org or 847-579-3136.

About the Project

The new breakwater will have a sheet pile foundation, need little maintenance, and have an expected life of 50-70 years.  Its “pedestrian-friendly” paved surface will be approximately 22 feet wide, with benches for residents to sit and enjoy the lake.  The new concrete ramp will allow for two-way boat launches. 

The new breakwater and boat launch will make our lakefront more enjoyable and safe by:
• Protecting the beach from erosion
• Protecting the cove that allows all watercraft to launch safely
• Providing a safe place for walking and fishing, powerboating, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and events
• Maintaining a rescue boat launch for the Fire Department and water safety personnel
• Enabling the Yacht Club to launch its safety boat team for classes and races

With the project complete, all Highland Park residents can safely enjoy everything their lakefront has to offer. The project will help ensure safe water recreation activities can continue in Lake Michigan.

In addition to boating activities, the improved Park Avenue will attract and support our downtown district use and tourism. Improvements to the breakwater and boat ramp will help Highland Park retain its reputation as a vibrant boating community, attracting new business and residents.

In response to the recent steep rise in COVID-19 cases and to keep our residents and staff as safe and healthy as possible at our facilities, the Park District of Highland Park wants to remind our patrons that the State of Illinois mandates that all individuals aged two and older are required to wear a face-covering when indoors, regardless of vaccination status. 

 Please follow these important guidelines: 

• A “face-covering” refers to a complete and tight-knit fabric or cloth or medical mask that is appropriately sized for the individual’s face to snuggly cover the nasal openings and mouth without the necessity of being held in place by the individual’s hands.
• Face-coverings may be removed by patrons only when they are actively drinking while stationary.
• A person shall not be considered to be wearing a face-covering unless it is  covering the person’s
  nasal openings and mouth.
• Physical distancing of six feet should be maintained where feasible. 

In Lake County, the CDC Data Tracker reports a positivity rate of 16.24% over the past seven days.  We appreciate our community’s understanding and cooperation as we work together to navigate these challenging times.  Always, your health and safety are our top priority, and we will keep you updated as the situation evolves.  

The Park District encourages all eligible patrons to get vaccinated against COVID-19. For more important information about the COVID-19 vaccines, best practices to protect yourself and others, and the proper way to wear face masks from the CDC, click here. 

For updates on the Park District of Highland Park COVID-19 response, click here.