We sat down this week to chat with Emily, Riley, and Campbell, skating instructors at Centennial Ice Arena who have skated there since early childhood. Their enthusiasm – for skating, teaching, and the Centennial community at large – is palpable. The three teens’ passion goes beyond the sport itself; their love for skating is inseparable from the deep camaraderie they have found at Centennial. For them and many others, Centennial is more than just an ice rink – it’s a home away from home.
Riley: “Coaches have helped form my teaching methods. They help walk you through things and they’re very communicative.”
Campbell: “Since we’re all skaters, when we’re teaching, we know how the kids feel.”
Riley: “Seeing kids grow – not only kids you teach but other kids around the rink. It’s really rewarding to see not only yourself grow but also your community grow.”
Campbell: “It’s nice to see the whole community come together.”
Emily: “The coaches at this rink have encouraged us to be friends with each other, and without them we wouldn’t have these bonds for life.”
Riley: “I was able to create new friendships because of skating. I fell in love with the sport when I could see my own progress – and I wanted it not only for myself but also to help others.”
Emily: “When I found my own support group at the rink, it pushed me because I had people who wanted me to succeed. It helped a lot.”
Campbell: “This is my safe space – to those Gilmore Girls fans, it’s like Stars Hollow. It’s such a nice community.”
Riley: “Every day is like a warm fuzzy moment here. Everyone is so sweet. Everyone is here to cheer us on.”
Emily: “The world of figure skating can be very cutthroat, but I feel like here it’s very welcoming and everyone wants you to succeed.”
Riley: “If I have a good day here, I have a good day for the rest of the week.”
Riley: “Do it because you love it.”
Emily: “Figure skating is like life in general. You fall, you get up, there are peaks and valleys. It’s not always going to be rainbows and sunshine – it matters how much work you put in.”
Campbell: “Putting in the effort for the long run. Practice makes perfect.”
Riley: “What motivates me most is the progress I’ve seen within myself. My coaches are super understanding, and my coach pushes me to better in a nurturing way. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without my friends by my side. When I have a really bad day, they’re here to make me feel better. Putting in effort whether it’s a good or bad day makes those days great.”
Emily: “Friends and coaches. If I’m skating on my own, one of my coaches might skate past me and say good job or give me a helpful reminder, and that keeps me motivated.”
Campbell: “The community keeps me motivated.”
Riley: “Maybe I’ll have a really bad day at school, but I’ll come here, and my friends will make me laugh and it will make me feel better about things. It’s a safe space.”
Riley: “Centennial has a great community. Everyone knows each other – I’m friends with everyone from the little kids who just started skating to the people who have been here for years. Everyone knows each other and people say hi. That healthy supportive community keeps people wanting to skate.”
Emily: “I don’t feel the same at other rinks as I do here. If I’m skating at another rink, I’ll think ‘I’d rather be at Centennial.’”
Riley: “It’s way warmer here than all the other rinks – (Emily) “literally and figuratively. Warmer and fuzzier in every sense.”
The Restricted Donor Agreement with Ron Saslow for the Enterprise Property Improvement Plan at 2205 Skokie Valley Road (Lot 3) is still being negotiated.
Staff reviewed the renewal terms for the 2024 License Agreement with the North Shore Yacht Club.
Staff provided project updates for Park Avenue North, the New Community Center at West Ridge Park, Port Clinton and Old Elm Park Playgrounds, and the Preserve of Highland Park Compton Avenue Trail Connection.
Staff reviewed the preliminary plans for the events planned July 4, 2024 based on discussions held between the City of Highland Park and the Park District.
Staff reviewed the 2024 Budget and Ordinance 2023-10, An Ordinance Amending the Appropriation Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2023.
The Finance Committee recommended the Park Board of Commissioners approve the agreement with Lakes and Rivers Contracting to the Park Avenue Boating Facility South Parking Lot Restoration project, the agreement with Stuckey Construction for the Larry Fink Memorial Park Baseball Field Improvements project, the agreement with Absolute Home Improvements for the Hidden Creek AquaPark Pool Shell Maintenance project, the Change Order for the Hidden Creek AquaPark Concrete Desk Replacement, and the agreement with Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. for the Deer Creek Racquet Club Parking Lot Engineering proposal.
Staff are meeting with the City of Highland Park to discuss extending the termination rights for the Second Amendment to the Lot 3 Lease Agreement.
The Decennial Committee approved the Park District of Highland Park’s Efficiency Report and authorized Executive Director Romes to submit the report to the Lake County Board.
A public hearing was held for the tax levy ordinance. Staff presented the 2024 proposed budget and the budget and appropriation ordinance.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved Ordinance 2023-03 Naming the Baseball Field at Larry Fink Park the Jeff Fox Baseball Field; Ordinance #2023-09 – Tax Levy for 2023; Ordinance #2023-10 An Ordinance Amending the Appropriation Ordinance for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2023 and Ending on December 31, 2023; the Deer Creek Racquet Club Parking Lot Engineering Proposal; the Hidden Creek AquaPark Concrete Deck Replacement Change Order; the 2024 Larry Fink Memorial Park Baseball Field Improvements Bid; the 2024 Hidden Creek Aqua Park Pool Shell Maintenance Project Bid; the 2024 Park Avenue Boating Facility South Parking Lot Restoration Bid; the 2024 Highland Park Pops Affiliate Organization Agreement; the 2024 Highland Park Players Affiliate Organization Agreement; the 2024 American Youth Soccer Organization Affiliate Agreement; the 2024 Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park Affiliate Organization Agreement; the 2024 License Agreement between the Park District of Highland Park and the North Shore Yacht Club; and the Restricted Donor Agreement with Ron Saslow at 2205 Skokie Valley Road (Lot 3) with amendments to Section 5B to include the word materially before improve and to replace the word certified with approved.
Staff presented the 2024 Proposed Budget and the Budget and Appropriation Ordinance. It was the consensus of the Park Board of Commissioners to lay the budget down for a period of thirty days so that the public may review and approve. A public hearing for the 2024 budget will be held on January 31, 2024.
Staff provided an end-of-season report for Sunset Valley Golf Club comparing budgeted vs actual revenues, expenses, and utilization.
As we are beginning to think about pulling out our snow boots and parkas from the back of the closet, our parks department has already been working hard to prepare our parks for the winter chill. Their year-round commitment ensures that our parks remain inviting and well-maintained for everyone to enjoy! Check out their winter to-do list.
Throughout the fall, our parks crews complete leaf-clearing and mulching at all our 44 parks. The mulch protects the grounds and plant life during the colder months. Weather permitting, crews aerate, seed, and sod to contribute to the health and vitality of the parks. Teak benches are brought in for refinishing to preserve their longevity. In addition, the team conducts a thorough inventory of picnic tables throughout the parks, collecting those in need of repair. New tables are constructed when necessary, ensuring well-maintained and sturdy seating options.
In November, the staff spends two to three days preparing the Danny Cunniff Park sled hill for winter fun by removing rocks and filling any holes. They are also fencing in the driving range at the Highland Park Golf Learning Center in preparation for the Winter Dog Park. At the same time, another crew is installing the hockey boards in preparation for the outdoor rink at Sunset Woods Park. Once the temperature drops to below-freezing for five consecutive days, the crew strategically floods the frozen ground 24 hours a day over 5-6 days to create a thick ice floor.
Winter is an opportune time for tree maintenance & tree trimming to promote the long-term health of our parks’ beautiful trees, particularly our beautiful oak trees. Crews also take this opportunity to remove buckthorn and other invasive species. This eco-conscious effort aims to preserve the natural biodiversity of the parks, promoting a healthy and balanced ecosystem.
In the early spring, the crews meticulously take down the sled hill, Winter Dog Park, and hockey boards at Sunset Woods. Benches and picnic tables are also placed back in our beautiful parks, signaling a seamless transition from winter to spring and preparing the parks for the warmer seasons.
We’re thrilled to welcome Deb Jenssen to the Centennial Ice Arena family as our dynamic Skating Coordinator! With a lifelong love for figure skating, Deb brings a wealth of experience and a contagious passion for the ice. Dive into her journey – from the early days of preschool skating in Rolling Meadows to winning National Championships with the first Starlight team. Deb’s commitment to teaching shines through as she shares a glimpse into her story and aspirations!
I grew up skating in Rolling Meadows during preschool. As I grew older, my coach asked me if I wanted to try out for Barrington’s Precision Team, now called Synchro. I skated on the first Starlight team in the area, winning many National Championships. During that time, I also skated Freestyle and Figures. I enjoy teaching others and love seeing skaters take pride in their skating achievements.
I have always been passionate about skating. I have three cousins who skated and two who are now coaches in the area. I always enjoyed (and still do) watching skating shows and competitions. I began volunteering for Northwest Special Recreation Association’s Learn to Skate Program during college. After becoming a staff member, I helped develop their competitive skating program. Working with skaters with disabilities has taught me to be a better coach.
I really enjoy seeing the growth within skaters! Growth can be so tiny or so big!
I would love to grow the skating programs in Highland Park. Whether you are just learning or an expert skater! Skating is really for all!
Skating is a whole-body sport! Studies have shown that doing sports like skating can help connect the two sides of the brain work together. What is great about skating is it can be an all-ages sport. You can begin at three and skate till you are 100! Skating also has so many different aspects to it: Basic, Freestyle, Ice Dancing, Pairs, and Synchronized Skating.
At the December 2023 meeting, the Park Board of Commissioners approved a renovation project to modernize the existing baseball field at Larry Fink Memorial Park. The newly renovated field will serve as a regional destination with improved amenities for the players and spectators and reduced maintenance requirements.
The new turf will more than triple the number of usable hours of the field each year and reduce the cost of maintenance by more than 50% every year over its projected 10-year lifespan. Hundreds of hours of play are lost each year due to flooding of the current grass field. This project is part of a larger Park District Athletic Fields Master Plan, which includes long-term plans to renovate the athletic fields and Danny Cunniff Park and Sunset Woods Park.
The project costs $1.02 million and will be funded with $500,000 from the Park District’s Capital Fund and the remainder from community donations. The groundbreaking is expected in Spring 2024, with completion in Summer 2024.
The Board also approved naming the new ballpark Jeff Fox Field, after longtime Highland Park resident Jeff Fox. It’s a wonderful story of how much the park, especially baseball, meant to Jeff and his family. See article here.
The ball field renovation is being funded with $500,000 from the Park District’s Capital Fund, with the balance paid through donations. To help fund the project, a group of dedicated community members formed a fundraising committee called the Giants Athletic Boosters, an affiliate of the Parks Foundation of Highland Park. To date, the Boosters have raised $453,000. The boosters only need to raise $49,000 to reach their goal.
When he heard that the ballfield at Larry Fink Memorial Park was being considered for a complete make-over, Corey Fox knew this was the perfect project to be involved with. He, his twin brother Ryan, and their older sister Lisa grew up across the street from the park. It wasn’t just a park to them. It was the park. When they were young kids, it was their park.
The Fox family, neighbors, and friends spent many days and nights at Fink Park playing on the swing sets, fishing, and playing baseball. Forty years ago, they played soccer, T-ball, and basketball and were part of the park district leagues. They went to classes and activities at West Ridge Center. They were what we happily call ‘Park District kids.’ Like many Highland Park families, Corey, Ryan, and Lisa went to Highland Park schools–Edgewood and HPHS–left for college and returned to their hometown. And now their kids have played all those sports and enjoyed our classes and camps. The circle is unbroken. It holds Lisa’s son Simon and daughter Harper, and Corey’s son Noah and daughters Emma and Mila. “They live at the parks —the parks are a huge part of their lives,” said Lisa. The same has been true for three generations in the Fox family. We love hearing that. It’s why we do what we do.
For Lisa, Ryan, and Corey, Fink Park is a place that brings back great memories of family, friendship, community, and, of course, of their father, Jeff. So it’s fitting that when the opportunity arose to help with the renovation of the ballfield in that special park, the Fox family rose to the occasion—and fitting as well that the Park Board has approved “Jeff Fox Field” as the name of the new ballpark.
Jeff Fox passed away in 2021. When he was quite ill and in the last few months of his life, he would still go to the ballfield so he wouldn’t miss a baseball game that Noah was playing in. “Nothing would bring Dad more joy than watching Noah pitch in a game at Fink Park,” the family told us. Everything had come full circle.
Corey, Ryan, and Lisa are all very clear about the project’s meaning to the family. It’s not simply about it being named Jeff Fox Field. In fact, according to Ryan, “Dad might not have agreed to have a field named after him, but he loved what this particular field meant to him. Togetherness, family, having fun, making friends, and community.” “And baseball was dad’s passion and such a big part of who he was.” For the family, it’s all about being able to help create something that everyone can enjoy as much as they did.
Lisa spoke for her brothers, saying, “He gave us all an amazing childhood. This was our park, and we wanted it to be a special place for the next generation of families. We wanted dad’s legacy to be symbolized by what was most important to him, which was bringing people together and building relationships. This project was a really unique way to make that happen.”
All of us at your Park District thank the Fox family and their supporters for their commitment, and we’re grateful to everyone supporting this important ballfield renovation. You are a big part of what makes this a great community.
See you around the parks!
All programs will run as scheduled and all facilities will be open.
Programs will run as scheduled this evening and facilities will remain open as scheduled.
The following adjustments have been made to our late afternoon and early evening (3:30pm – 6pm) programming:
At 4pm, the Park District will reevaluate other later evening programs and activities based on weather conditions. Updates will be sent out via email and posted on our website and social media.
The following adjustments have been made to our programming:
At 3:30pm, the Park District will reevaluate the evening programs and activities based on weather conditions. Updates will be sent out via email and will be posted on our website and social media.
Stay safe.
Due to predicted severe weather conditions and for the safety of our residents and employees, on Friday, January 12, the following adjustments have been made to our programming:
At 10am, the Park District will reevaluate the day’s afternoon and evening schedules based on weather conditions. Updates will be sent out via email and will be posted on our website and social media.
Stay safe.
Click here for a complete description of our Emergency Closing Policy.
For information on road conditions and road closures, please visit https://www.lakecountypassage.com/index.jsp.
Designed to assist migrants, who recently have been arriving via buses from Texas to Highland Park, while they await transfer to the Chicago Processing Center, the “Take Care” Packages will be a tangible expression of our community’s care for others.
Non-Perishable Food/Drink: Bottled water, granola bars, dried fruits and nuts, and packaged healthy snacks
Hygiene Products: Toothbrushes/toothpaste, soap/shampoo (travel size), feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes, and hand sanitizer and wet wipes
Clothing: Hats, gloves, socks, and underwear
First Aid Kit: Bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and face masks
General: Reusable water bottles and flashlights with extra batteries
Communications: Basic travel translation guides or dictionaries, and prepaid phone cards
Comfort Items: Children’s books, magazines, or puzzle books (Spanish language), and stuffed animals
Gift cards for grocery stores or pharmacies (please do not drop-off at Park District sites)
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 8pm this evening to midnight on Tuesday night. Wet snow accumulations from 5-8 inches are expected with wind gusts as high as 35 mph Tuesday night. We encourage our residents to be careful when driving. Hazardous road conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening commute.
If weather conditions impact Park District programs, we will share updated information on our website, social media, and in our emails. Please follow our Facebook or sign up for our e-newsletters for updates.
We endeavor to keep our facilities and programs operating whenever possible. There are times, however, when weather, road conditions, or facility malfunctions dictate that programs and/or services must be canceled, or temporarily postponed or entire facilities closed. Click here for a complete description of our Emergency Closing Policy.
For information on road conditions and road closures, please visit https://www.lakecountypassage.com/index.jsp.
By: Trainer Amy Hohman
As the cold weather approaches, many outdoor exercisers dread the idea of moving their workouts indoors. The following tips may help:
