Before heading out to your favorite Park District of Highland Park facility on Easter Sunday, check out our hours!

Virtually every community has a leash law. In Highland Park, the law requires that dogs be kept on a leash on public property, including our parks. The law intends to protect the health and safety of the public and to protect your pet. A leash is commonly referred to as “Your Pet’s Lifeline” and protects your pet from harm and potentially harming other people or animals in the area. While you can train certain dogs to avoid the busy roads, stop and wait for their owner at corners, and even return to their side at command, there is always the chance that a dog could act impulsively. The safest way and legal way to walk your dog is on a leash.

Other Reasons to Always Use a Dog Leash

• It is courteous to your neighbors and strangers, especially if they do not know your dog’s level of obedience or have a fear of dogs.
• Off-leash, your dog could stray and get lost. 
• Dogs can frequently ignore their owner’s commands and get into harm’s way. 
• Most canines don’t mind dog leashes or collars; in fact, most like them.
• A leash allows you to pull your dog back, should there be something dangerous in the environment.
• Some dogs like to sniff or eat other animals’ droppings, and those can carry disease. If your pet is leashed, this is less likely to happen.

Become a Dog Park Member!

Dog Park Membership offers countless benefits for your dog. One of the most important benefits a dog park provides a dog is to exercise both his body and mind. In an open off-leash space, your dog has the chance to run around freely, chasing after balls and other dogs as much as his heart desires. He can socialize with humans and other dogs, which helps maintain healthy social skills. Like people, dogs are social creatures, and they enjoy being around their own kind. Your dog can practice his communication skills with other dogs and gives him practice reading other dogs. Practicing and mastering these skills helps your dog from developing fear or aggression problems around other dogs. This is especially true if you have a young dog that is eager to learn. And, not only is it fun for your four-legged friend, but it’s also fun for you! You can run around and exercise with your dog, practice off-leash training, talk to and bond with other dog owners, and enjoy the time watching your dog have the time of his life.

The Park District of Highland Park has three dog parks available to registered members:

Debbie Gottlieb Beitler Dog Park at Larry Fink Memorial Park – open year-round (701 Deer Creek Parkway)
A relaxed park-like atmosphere with two off-leash exercise areas, depending on the size of your dog.

Highland Park Golf Learning Center – open mid-December through mid-March* (2203 Skokie Valley Highway)
A large outdoor venue for your dog to run off some of that cabin fever energy.

Moraine Dog Beach – open mid-April through mid-November* (2501 Sheridan Road)
Moraine Dog Beach is scheduled to reopen this year with a new boardwalk and path leading down to the beach. Your dogs will soon be able to run in the sand and dip in the lake on those hot, sunny days.

March 12: Workshop Meeting of the Park Board

The Lakota Group, aQity Research and Insights, and BerryDunn held a kickoff meeting for the Greenprint Master Plan Update on February 24, 2025 with staff and the Park Board Master Planning Project liaisons. Staff provided a progress update on the Master Plan progress.

Staff provided construction updates for the development of Club Pickle and Padel, the New Facility and Site Improvements at West Ridge Park, Park Avenue Boating Facility North Beach Improvements, and Sunset Woods Park Improvements. 

March 18: Finance Committee Meeting

Staff reviewed the request for proposals for the 2025 Hidden Creek AquaPark and Rosewood Beach Concessions License.  

Staff reviewed the bids via NIMEC (Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative) and Satori Energy for electricity rates for the entire District.

Staff would like to enter into a reciprocal agreement with the Glencoe Park District. Staff reviewed the proposed terms.

Staff reviewed and provided contractor recommendations for the Centennial Ice Arena Roof Top Unit Bid, the Centennial Ice Arena Dehumidification Unit Installation Bid, the Hidden Creek AquaPark Fence Improvements Project Bid, the Recreation Center of Highland Park Pool Filter Change, Pool Deck Renovation, and Pool Grate Replacement Bids.

Several maintenance vehicles and equipment have met their useful lives and need to be replaced. Staff reviewed the recommended vehicle and equipment purchases.

March 19: Regular Meeting of the Park Board

The Park Board of Commissioners approved the Rejection of the 2025 Centennial Ice Arena Roof Top Unit Replacement Bids, the Purchase of 2025 Capital Replacement Tractor, the 2025 Centennial Ice Arena Dehumidification Unit Installation, the 2025 Renewal of the 2023 Weeding & Landscape Services Bid, the 2025 Hidden Creek AquaPark Fence Improvements Project Bid, the 2025 Renewal of the 2023 Routine Grounds Maintenance – South Route Bid, the 2025 Renewal of the 2023 Routine Grounds Maintenance – North Route Bid, the 2025 Recreation Center of Highland Park Pool Filter Change, Pool Deck Renovation, and Pool Grate Replacement, the Dynegy Energy Services, LLC Electric Service Agreement bid via Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative (NIMEC), the 2025 Hidden Creek AquaPark and Rosewood Beach Concessions License Agreement with Judy’s Pizzeria, the Purchase of an Electric Transit Van, and Ordinance 2025-04: Authorizing and Providing for the Conveyance or Sale of Surplus Personal Property.

Staff evaluated the 2025 capital plan vehicle replacement list and determined that three 4×4 pick-up trucks have met their useful life and need to be replaced. Staff recommended purchasing three gas-powered trucks through the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative. While the purchases were under budget, the Park Board of Commissioners requested staff explore electric vehicle options.

Staff provided an annual report for the Recreation Center of Highland Park comparing budgeted vs actual programming revenues, expenses, and membership utilization.

The Park Board of Commissioners went into closed session pursuant to Section 2(c)1: The employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body. The Park Board of Commissioners reconvened into open session and approved a six-month contract extension to the Employment Agreement for the Executive Director and a new Employment Agreement for the Executive Director.

For kids, some of summer’s most wonderful adventures happen outdoors. In the woods. On a trail. At the beach. Around a campfire. At your Park District, all of those sights, sounds, and experiences are possible at our popular Nature Camps. Registration is in full swing, and these camps fill fast. (Girl’s Outdoor Challenge already has a waitlist!)

If you’re new to camp registrations, check out Allie’s Crash Course in Camp Registration, and you’ll be an expert in no time.

There’s plenty of information about these exciting Nature Camps, but we also get requests to put it all in one place. So, here we go. (No sunscreen required).

If playing with friends on the beach along the shore of Lake Michigan, swimming almost every day, building towering sandcastles, seeing how the tides change the landscape, and finding newly uncovered treasures sounds like your kind of summer, then this is your camp.

Each week has a different theme that includes a local field trip, swimming lessons at Hidden Creek AquaPark, and fun activities like meeting live animals, creating one-of-a-kind artwork, fishing, scavenger hunts at The Preserve and so much more of what the Park District has to offer.

“One of the very special things that these campers get to experience at Rosewood Beach is seeing bullfrogs in the ravine… and hearing them sing!,” said Meghan Meredith, Program Manager at Heller Nature Center. Now there’s a memory that will last a lifetime!

High Tide, Low Tide is for rising 1^st and 2^nd graders. New this year, you can register for one week at a time, to fit your family’s vacation schedule. Register for four weeks or more and you’ll get a discount. But as you know, “Time and Tide Wait For No Man,” so sign up soon!

Eight great weeks await, each with its own nature-focused theme! And yes, this year you can pick the weeks that fit your schedule.

Designed for all kids ages 8–11, this camp is chock full of all the exciting activities that make summer camp so memorable. Encouraged by our experienced, caring counselors, every camper enjoys the healthy physical and mental play that inspires creativity every day. Outdoor fun includes wandering through the woods at Heller Nature Center and finding wildlife large and very small. Geocaching—those mini treasure hunts using GPS—is always a camp favorite. There’s lots of exploring at The Preserve and Danny Cunniff Park, learning about nature close up with unique and fascinating activities like pond dipping (don’t knock it ’til you’ve dipped!), fishing, and canoeing. We travel to some of the best indoor adventure sites for rock climbing and more on weekly field trips.

If being outdoors in summer means nature-based activities with a team of like-minded adventurers (rather than a team of sports enthusiasts), check out the wide world of nature that comes your way in this special camp. As Meghan says, “You never know what wonders you’ll find when you turn over that next log!”

Take your summer camp experience to the next level as you take on the challenges that come with the team building, fire building, life-skills building, and confidence building activities at the core of this 3-week camp for ages 11–14. Mark Bryant, Heller’s Naturalist and host of our popular video series  “Wild Insights with Mark Bryant” leads campers as they boldly go into the woods, tackle the Teams Course, climb the crates, discover their hidden strengths—leadership, communication, empathy, ziplining, axe throwing(!)—and prepare for the overnight camping trips in weeks 2 and 3.

Every exciting week also includes paddle sports at the Skokie Lagoons, tips and tricks of successful outdoor cooking—including those new fire-building skills—learning to connect with the great outdoors in real-time, and gaining a whole new perspective on the world.

The featured events are, of course, the overnight camping trips. This year, in week 2, we’re off to Pratt Wayne Woods, the largest Forest Preserve in DuPage County for outdoor exploring, bonding with new friends, and a fun night of live-fire cooking—and s’mores!

During Week 3 our overnight is at the beautiful Chain O’ Lakes State Park, with exceptional hiking trails, abundant fishing, and wildlife at every turn. Outdoor cooking, campfire fun, and creating lasting friendships are the hallmarks of why kids come back year after year.

Don’t wait. Sign up for these adventures before they’re gone!

You can find out about these camps, and dozens more, 24/7 on our website. Summer’s coming and our counselors are ready. All we need is you!

Until next time… See you around the parks!

Are you ready to write the next chapter for your Park District? Our parks, trails, and recreation facilities are more than just places—they are the heart of Highland Park. These vibrant spaces bring families together, offer children a place to play, provide athletes with grounds to compete, and allow everyone a chance to connect and find community. The Park District of Highland Park is excited to launch the New GreenPrint Master Planning project — a community-based process to continue enhancing the quality of life in Highland Park and respond to your needs.

The GreenPrint Master Planning team will gather resident ideas, aspirations, and concerns at the Egg Hunt events at Sunset Woods Park on Saturday, April 5 from 9:30-11am, and at the Recreation Center of Highland Park from 11:30am-1pm.

The New GreenPrint Master Plan is our commitment to ensuring that our beloved parks and recreation system continues to serve everyone, now and into the future. Your voice is crucial in shaping a future that keeps our community at its best.

The Park Board and project team broke ground on Wednesday, March 12, for the new recreation center at West Ridge Park. The center will feature a 10,000-square-foot gymnastics gym, a 1,500-square-foot dance studio, three state-of-the-art childhood enrichment rooms, a community gathering room, and an event lawn.  

“Together we are building an extraordinary recreation center, more importantly we are building community,” said Park Board President Cal Bernstein. “Residents of all ages will fill these spaces to build life skills, friendships, and lasting memories that will sustain for generations to come.”

Estimated completion of the new recreation center at West Ridge Park is early 2026.

February 12: Workshop Meeting of the Park Board

Canceled due to the weather.

February 21: Finance Committee Meeting

Staff reviewed Ordinance #2025-02, An Ordinance Amending the Appropriation Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2024 that will transfer a total of $145,000 from Recreation Fund Item Type 610, Salaries and Wages to Recreation Fund Item Types 680, Cost of Goods Sold, 650, Maintenance & Landscaping, and 720, Capital Outlay, in the amounts of $36,000, $100,000, and $10,000, respectively; plus  a transfer of $20,000 from General Fund Item Type 610, Salaries and Wages to General Fund Item Type 660, Utilities; lastly, a transfer of $18,459.28 from Special Recreation Fund Item Type 620, Contractual Services to Special Recreation Fund Item Type 720, Capital Outlay. 

Staff reviewed Resolution 2025-02 to allow the bidding of electricity for the District from Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative and Satori Energy.  

Staff provided construction updates for the New Facility and Site Improvements at West Ridge Park, Club Pickle and Padel, and the Recreation Center of Highland Park (landscaping plan for shared parking lot located at 1207 Park Avenue West, emergency repairs due to flooding, and the proposal from Williams Architects to provide architectural and engineering services for Phase Two of the locker room renovation).

Staff reviewed and provided contractor recommendations for the Park Avenue Dredging bid results and the Larry Fink Tot Lot Renovation bid results.

February 24: Master Planning Committee Meeting

The Lakota Group (designers, planners, and communication experts), aQity Research and Insights (survey consultant), and BerryDunn (Recreation Services Assessment consultant) held a kickoff meeting for the Greenprint Master Plan Update.

February 26: Regular Meeting of the Park Board

The Park Board of Commissioners approved the 2025 Park Avenue Dredging Project Bid, the 2025 Larry Fink Tot Lot Renovation Bid, the New Recreation Facility at West Ridge Park Construction Material Testing Proposal, the Williams Architects Recreation Center of Highland Park Locker Room Shower Area Remodeling Proposal, Ordinance 2025-02 An Ordinance Amending the Appropriation Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2024, Ordinance 2025-03: Authorizing and Providing for the Conveyance or Sale of Surplus Personal Property, and Resolution 2025-02 Authorizing the Purchase of Electricity for Park District Facilities and Meters and Authorizing the Director to Approve a Contract with the Lowest Cost Electricity Provider for a period up to 3 years.

Staff provided an annual report for Heller Nature Center and the Rosewood Interpretive Center comparing budgeted vs actual programming revenues, expenses, and participant utilization.

Keep your kids busy and active during spring break and participate in one of our programs during the week of March 24-28!

Friday, March 21 – Friday, March 28 • 9am-3pm

STREAM Explorers Spring Break Camp

The STREAM Explorers Spring Break Camp offers a fun experience for children during spring break. Held at West Ridge Center, this camp features a variety of activities in Science, Technology, Recreation, Environment, Art, and More. Participants will engage in hands-on technology projects, creative art activities, exciting recreational games, and environmental explorations. The camp provides an ideal way for kids to spend their spring break, making new friends and exploring new interests in a dynamic and supportive environment.

*Weekend excluded in Spring Break Camp

Ages 5-10

Register for $450/564 (r/nr)

Program is full

Monday, March 24 – Friday, March 28 • 9am-Noon

Junior Spring Break Tennis Camp

Register for one day or all 5!

Get out of the house and hit the courts this spring break.
Drill and play with our pros and also play some games.

Ages 8-14

Register for $47/class or $200/week

Monday, March 24 • 10am-noon

Tracks to Treasures

Ahoy! Become a pirate and follow the tracks in the sand to discover where animals have hidden their treasure. Create treasure boxes to collect our treasures of stones, fossils and sea glass along the shore.

This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Mix, Splatter, Sculpt may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Rosewood between programs.

Ages: 5-10

Register for $34

Monday, March 24 • 12:30-2:30pm

Mix, Splatter, Sculpt

Using natural elements, sculpt some clay animal figures, crate splatter paintings, and mix up a new color for your nature art pieces.

This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Tracks to Treasures may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Rosewood between programs.

Ages: 5-10

Register for $34

Tuesday, March 25 • 10am-noon

Sasquatch Search Squad

Become a member of the Sasquatch search squad! Follow a map and investigate clues through the forest. Keep alert for signs like footprints and tree markings. Each clue draws you deeper into the mystery: where is the Sasquatch?

This is a drop-off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Incredible Insects may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Heller Nature Center between programs.

Ages: 6-11

Register for $34

Tuesday, March 25 • 12:30-2:30pm

Incredible Insects

Who’s hiding at Heller? Join our Heller naturalists for a day of rolling over logs and peaking under stones to find out what insects live in our woods and what kinds of homes they prefer. Then, we will capture a few to observe before releasing them back into the wild!

This is a drop-off program. Pre-registration is required. The program is outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Sasquatch Search Squad may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Heller Nature Center between programs.

Ages: 6-11

Register for $34

Wednesday, March 26 • 10am-noon

Make, Create, Build It!

Participants will get a chance to use tools and practice motor skills as they work on a project they get to bring home at the end of the day. When your creation is ready, test it out!

This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Wild Powers may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Rosewood between programs.

Ages: 5-10

Register for $34

Wednesday, March 26 • 12:30-2:30pm

Wild Powers

Come on a Creature Mission! Imagine that you had the powers of some of our forest animals, how WILD! Learn about some animal characteristics or “powers” that can help us on our wild mission to save our furry forest animals.

This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Make, Create, Build It! may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Rosewood between programs.

Ages: 5-10

Register for $34

January 8: Finance Committee Meeting

Staff shared the AIA Agreement and the Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment between the Park District of Highland Park and the construction manager, W.B. Olsen, for the New Facility and Site Improvements at West Ridge Park. Park District Legal Counsel, Ancel Glink, and representatives from W.B. Olsen, attended tonight’s meeting to answer any questions regarding language, terms, and conditions in the AIA Agreement and the Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment.

January 15: Workshop Meeting of the Park Board

The Park Board of Commissioners approved the GMP Amendment with W.B. Olson for construction of the new recreation center at West Ridge Park in the amount of $15,050,498.

Staff reviewed the Club Pickle and Padel app which has been released to Deer Creek Racquet Club Members, Recreation Center of Highland Park Members, and Danny Cunniff park outdoor court users to promote the new facility, outdoor court reservations at Danny Cunniff Park, membership options, upcoming clinics and events. Staff are promoting the app through ParkLine, the PDHP website, and social media channels to attract new members.

Staff provided construction updates for development of Club Pickle and Padel, the New Facility and Site Improvements at West Ridge Park, emergency repairs for the Recreation Center of Highland Park and Signage for 1207 Park Avenue West, Park Avenue South Parking Lot restoration and updated Signage for the Park Avenue Beach and Boating Facility.

January 28: Finance Committee Meeting

The Park District received two proposals in response to the 2025 Master Plan Review and Revision Request for Proposals issued in November 2024. The purpose of the RFP is to hire a consultant to update the existing PDHP master Plan to provide direction on future planning initiatives for the next 5-10 years. Staff reviewed the proposals.

Staff reviewed the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract with Landscape Structures, Inc., to purchase playground equipment for Larry Fink Park.

On December 2, 2024, The Recreation Center of Highland Park experienced a leak in a water line that feeds one of the water fountains on the fitness floor. The water damage and subsequent property loss was substantial. Since fitness flooring has long lead time to procure staff ordered the replacement flooring on January 16 in effort to reopen the facility as soon as possible.  Staff will be requesting approval of a Resolution at the Regular Meeting of the Park Board, ratifying the waiving of competitive bidding for the procurement of materials for emergency restoration and preservation measures.

January 29: Regular Meeting of the Board

A public hearing was held for the 2025 budget.

The Park Board of Commissioners approved a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract for Playground Equipment for Larry Fink Park, Resolution 2025-01 Ratifying the Waiving of Competitive Bidding for the Procurement of Materials for Emergency Restoration and Preservation Measures, Ordinance 2025-01: Combined Budget and Appropriation Beginning January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, and a Professional Services Agreement with the Lakota Group for Master Plan Development. 

Staff provided an end of season report for Highland Park Golf Learning Center and Sunset Valley Golf Club comparing budgeted vs actual revenues, expenses, and utilization.

The Park Board of Commissioners released a portion of the Closed Session minutes from August 21, 2024 (Pertaining to Section 2(c)21). The Closed Session minutes from July 17, 2024 Workshop Meeting, August 14, 2024 Facility and recreation Committee Meeting, a portion of the August 21, 2024 Workshop Meeting, August 28, 2024 Regular Meeting, October 30, 2024 Regular Meeting, and November 13, 2024 Regular Meeting shall not be released for public inspection since the need for confidentiality still exists as to all or part of those minutes.