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With the cold weather comes snow and winter fun! Take a look at everything you need to know about our outdoor winter activities.
Sunset Woods Park: 1801 Sunset Road
Hours: 9am-9pm daily (rink is lit by existing park lights)
When weather conditions allow (an average temperature of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder for 5 consecutive days, 5-6 inches of ground frost), Park District staff will begin flooding the ice rink at Sunset Woods Park. It takes four 24-hour days to spray and freeze the water to create a base and finish ice.
Throughout the season, the rink may be closed for snow removal or unsafe ice conditions.
Skating is free and the rink is sectioned off to allow for separate hockey and recreational skating. Groups should be considerate of one another. For the safety of our patrons, helmets are required in the hockey rink.
There is no supervision or skate rental at the outdoor rink. Anyone using the ice rink should be aware that the risk of injury is present. The Park District encourages everyone to participate in this activity in a safe manner and suggests that children be supervised by a responsible adult.
Danny Cunniff Park: 2700 Trail Way Street (located toward the back of the park, just south of Centennial Ice Arena)
Hours: No set hours
The sled hill is free and open to the public. Please be aware that there is no supervision or warming facility at the sled hill. The Park District of Highland Park encourages everyone to participate in this activity in a safe manner and to follow these safety guidelines:
Throughout the season, the sled hill may be closed from time to time.
Heller Nature Center: 2821 Ridge Road
Hours : 7:30am – Dusk
Hit the snow on three miles of ungroomed trails at Heller Nature Center. Skiing with Skis is available whenever snow conditions permit (4″ base or greater). Call 847.433.6901 to check snow conditions.
$13/person: Reservations must be made online, no walk-ins.
If you have your own skis, please feel free to use our trails at your leisure from 7:30am to dusk.
Monday-Sunday: 9-10am, 10:10-11:10am, 11:20am-12:20pm, 1-2pm, 2:10-3:10pm, 3:20-4:20pm
Highland Park Golf Learning Center: 2205 Skokie Valley Highway
Hours : Dawn – Dusk
Open mid-December through mid-March (dates are weather dependent). A large outdoor venue for your dog to run off some of that cabin fever energy. There are two off-leash exercise areas available, depending on the size of your dog.
For more information on our dog parks and to apply for a dog park membership, click the button below.
On Wednesday, November 1, the Park District of Highland Park, in conjunction with the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, celebrated the renaming of Cloverdale Park to Fontana-Pasquesi Park in honor of the Italian immigrant families from the Modena Province in the Emilia Romagna Region who settled in this area beginning in the early 1900s. The Fontana-Pasquesi family gave a generous donation to the Parks Foundation that will be used to maintain and improve the park for the neighborhood and the entire Highland Park community for many years to come.
The Park District Board of Commissioners approved the renaming of the park at the October 25, 2023 Regular Board Meeting. The naming rights agreement was presented and approved by the Park Board of Commissioners at the August 23, 2023, Regular Board Meeting. The name sat for a period of 60 days for public review before final approval by the Park Board.
A dedication plaque will be posted at the park giving the history of the Italian-American families who settled in the Highland Park/Highwood area.
This park is dedicated to the Italian immigrants from the Modena Province in the Emilia Romagna Region. The capital of Modena is the city of Modena, which is one of the Sister Cities of Highland Park.
These immigrants settled in Southeast Lake County beginning in the early 1900s. They strongly supported their adopted homeland and were proud to become U.S. citizens with many serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
It was their sacrifice, spirit, and work ethic that contributed to Highland Park History.
Laurence Pasquesi
Maria Fontana Pasquesi
We can put you where you’ve always wanted to be. In the spotlight. In the action. Onstage!
Your Park District is creating a theatre program where all are welcome, and all can shine. Acting? Yes. Singing? Yesssss! Designing and building props? We have all the tools.
Do you love to perform? Well, we spent the last year thinking about you. We used our time creating a new Theatre program where you can use your talents, learn, grow, and show your friends and family that you’ve got what it takes! Sound like fun? It is!
This fall, you have the opportunity to sign up for any of the 8 new classes we’ve created that can start you on the road to stage (or screen) greatness. Take a look:
Introduction to Theatre. This class is all about learning stage directions. Those are all critical for any young performer, and you’ll concentrate on the basics, and the correct terminology, so you’re ready for whatever comes your way. Things like:
Broadway Here I Come. Acting, of course. But also music and dance. If musical theater is your thing, then this is your class. You’ll be swell. You’ll be great. You know the rest.
Teen Improv. This is a brand new class. It’s specialized, but maybe you are, too. Check it out!
Take the Stage. Our 2023 summer camp was a great big hit! Look for details next spring.
In our art classes at the Park District, we’ll teach you what to look at, how to look at it, and how to draw it!
Most people who really would love to draw and paint have never taken a class because they just don’t think they have any talent. Well, drawing is a skill. It can be taught. We can teach you to draw, and you’ll have a great time doing it.
How do we know? We do it every day, for artists of all ages at all levels. Can you see shapes? Great! That’s where all art begins. Circles, squares, triangles, ellipses. On one level it’s quite simple, and when you learn to see, and learn to make the shapes you’re seeing, your confidence grows exponentially. Join one of our classes and beyond the joy of creating you’ll also get some extra benefits.
More hand-eye-brain coordination. That’s important at every age, along with developing and maintaining fine motor skills, but seniors may find it especially important to keep their hands, eyes, and brain working together in harmony.
Actual benefits to your brain. While you draw, your brain builds new connections and pathways. The left side is responsible for logical thinking and the right side is where your creativity comes from. Since both sides are active, the brain grows. Query: If you draw the brain does your brain grow even more?
Concentration. Drawing requires that you focus on the subject and concentrate on the marks you’re making. You must be present. In the moment. Doing that for an extended period of time, like a class, can train your brain to do that at other, perhaps more important times. It’s so much better for you than scrolling endlessly, and when you’re done concentrating on your drawing you just might have a beautiful piece of art that you can be proud of for years to come. Wouldn’t that be lovely!
A better mental attitude. Many people feel more at ease while they are drawing. Certainly, Vincent did. Drawing is a well-known therapy tool for stress relief. It can feel like meditation. When you feel productive, you more often just feel good about yourself. We know we do.
You might just develop an artist’s “eye.” Drawing can help you see proportions and the relationships between objects. It can help you be a better judge of measurements and distances. Things you can apply to other areas of your life. Drawing can be so much more than marks on paper, once you learn to see.
Did we mention how much fun it is? If nothing else we’ve said has moved you (or made your brain light up), think about taking an art class with a friend. Sharing your new skills and enjoying each other’s sketches is one of the great joys you’ll experience. We guarantee it!
One of the areas that Julie Nichols, our Recreation Program Manager, and Chris Holling, our Recreation Supervisor for Youth Enrichment & Arts, began to focus on a couple of years ago was the creation of a Dance program at the Park District that filled a need in the community.
After running some free workshops and talking with those participants to better understand what they wanted from the district, they built a program that grew to include more than 200 dancers—in just 9 months. Is it fun? You bet. Is it providing a place for young performers to express themselves? Without a doubt. Is it successful? On more levels than you would think.
Dance is one of the Performing Arts that benefits all ages in ways that go way beyond just physical strength, movement, and flexibility. In our program, dancers learn about good nutrition and how to combine that with proper stretching and strengthening routines. Dancing is an excellent outlet for their creativity, and they get support for that from their peers. That builds self-confidence and self-esteem which can carry over into so many other areas of their lives.
Our Spring 2023 Dance Recital, held onstage at Northwood Middle School, was attended by more than 400 of the dancers’ family members and friends. Confidence poured from the stage. That’s what a well-crafted program can do when it’s run by Park District staff who care deeply for the participants. We know that many of our Cultural and Performing Arts programs are the first step on the road to the next level. That’s what you’ve told us you want, and that’s how the programs are designed. But even if your child is a budding Yo-Yo Ma, or Baryshnikov, or Kristin Chenoweth, they need a place to start where they get the support they need—and still have fun. That’s us. That’s what we do, every day.
Just as our Music program feeds the brain, so does our Dance program. And while your dancing brain is lighting up, here are some other well-documented things that are happening:
We hope knowing some of that makes you want to get up and dance. We’ll join you down at the Ozdust Ballroom!
2 Science confirms: Dancing makes you happy. Read the article here.
As cold weather approaches, the Park District of Highland Park and City of Highland Park are partnering with the Community Care Collective of Chicago’s 33rd Ward to collect much-needed items for asylum seekers arriving in Chicago.
More than 18,000 migrants, mostly from Central and South America, have come to Chicago since last fall. Hundreds continue to arrive daily in need of shelter and supplies. Together, we can make a difference and extend a warm welcome to those who are seeking refuge and a brighter future.
For Men, Women, and Children (Lightly Used/Clean OR New):
Staff provided construction updates for the Sunset Woods Park OSLAD grant project, Larry Fink Memorial Park Baseball Field Improvements project, Hidden Creek AquaPark Deck Replacement and Shade Structures project, Park Avenue Break Water and Boat Ramp project, Park Avenue North Beach project, Centennial Ice Arena Facility, Locker Rooms, and Site Renovations, Recreation Center of Highland Park Dehumidification Replacement project, and the New Community Center at West Ridge Park.
Staff reviewed the construction management services agreement from W.B. Olsen for the new community center at West Ridge Park.
Staff provided an update on the request for proposals (RFP) for the 2023 Agreement for Recreational Services of an Enterprise Facility at 2205 Skokie Valley Road.
It was the consensus of the Finance Committee to place the following capital vehicle purchases and bid awards on the consent agenda at the September 27, 2023 Regular Board Meeting: two (2) capital replacement dump trucks, three (3) capital replacement pickup trucks, the 2023 District-wide sign installation project bid, the 2023 District-wide fall tree removals project bid, and the 2023 Cunniff Park maintenance building restroom improvements project bid.
Staff provided a 2023 financial analysis report of Centennial Ice Arena, comparing year-to-date budgeted vs. actual revenues and expenses for programs and rentals.
Staff reviewed the Capital Plan Ten-Year Funding Model and the 2024 Budget Timeline.
Staff provided a five-year financial analysis report on employee salaries, insurance, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), and Illinois Mutual Retirement Fund (IMRF) costs to the District.
Staff provided an overview of the committee’s purpose, requirements, and member roles.
Staff reviewed the benefits of having a park district as a distinct unit of government and separate taxing body.
Staff reviewed the community benefits of having shared services and partnership agreements with sporting groups, sponsor organizations, non-profits, and governmental agencies.
Staff reviewed examples of efficient operations and the benefits those have on the Highland Park Community.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of two (2) Capital Replacement Dump Trucks, the purchase of Three (3) Capital Replacement Pickup Trucks, the 2023 District-Wide Sign Installation Project bid, the 2023 District-Wide Fall Tree Removals Project bid, the 2023 Cunniff Park Maintenance Building Restroom Improvements Project bid, Ordinance #2023-07: Authorizing and Providing for the Conveyance or Sale of Surplus Personal Property, and AIA Document A133-2019 Standard Form of Agreement for Construction Management Services For the New Community Center at West Ridge Park.
Staff reviewed the RFQ submittals for the Sunset Woods Improvement Design Service and received consensus from the Park Board of Commissioners to proceed with negotiating a fee with the top-ranked firm, Lamar Johnson.
Staff reviewed the RFP submittals for the Recreational Services of an Enterprise Facility at 2205 Skokie Valley Road.
Staff presented the 2024 Budget Timeline.
Staff presented the 2023 End of Season Summer Camp Report.
For many families in Highland Park and Highwood, their Park District is the place for recreation and healthy activities, including music lessons!
Ask Sonia Rochon, and she’ll focus on something you might not think of as what we do here: how much her son Desmond loves taking piano lessons at the Park District! Sonia and her family moved to Highland Park from Chicago in 2019. In addition to taking other fun classes at West Ridge Center, Desmond, who is now in 4th grade, has been studying piano for the past year. “He really likes his teacher,” said Sonia. We hear that a lot about our teachers, and it’s something we’re quite proud of. “He’s come a long way in a short time,” said Sonia, “and I feel like he’s gotten a great start for everything moving forward.”
She also agreed with some other things that music educators have always known, and that we stress in our program: learning to read music is akin to learning and communicating in another language, and playing an instrument activates parts of the brain that are strikingly different than the ones we use when listening to music. That can help students, of any age, be more successful in other areas of academics and socialization. Research on the neurobiological effects of music on the brain has shown that the process by which we hear and interpret musical sounds is quite complex and that different types of music, and different musical instruments, activate different areas of the brain. So, while you have always known that playing piano, guitar, or violin is certainly a physical activity with great benefits to manual dexterity, and a mental activity that increases your ability to concentrate and memorize, now you can add brain development to the reasons why taking lessons is good for your health and happiness1. Sweet!
Of course, we never forget that music lessons at the Park District are fun! Check them out and we think you’ll agree.
1 Here is some extra special “This is your brain on music” fun: Dr. David Silbersweig of the Harvard Medical School has written about these specific areas of the brain and what they do as far as playing and listening to music: The temporal lobe helps us understand tone and pitch. Our cerebellum helps us process rhythm and timing. The amygdala and hippocampus are responsible for emotions and memory.
Coach Wally Kormylo, who passed away on October 3rd was a legendary figure in the Highland Park hockey community. During his 76-year career, beginning as a player in Canada and then moving to the states at 20 years old as part of a traveling ice show—jumping barrels and performing other tricks on skates—hockey was always his passion. As a coach, he helped dozens of aspiring players become well-known greats. “I worked with Wayne Gretzky up in Canada for two weeks, an hour every day, to work on his skating. My profession was power skating, making hockey players faster,” said Coach in a recent interview.
We all knew Coach Wally at Centennial Ice Arena, where he taught generations of young hockey players in the Falcons Hockey Association, and won more than 20 State Championships. “Everyone was excited,” he said.
Nick Meo, who was a Facilities Manager for the Park District for more than 15 years, remembers Coach very fondly. “I first met Wally Kormylo over 40 years ago when I was first learning the sport. Wally, like my father, was instrumental in my love for the game of hockey. Through the years, he became more than just my coach. He was a mentor, a friend, and most importantly, an inspiration to me and thousands of kids and families in the hockey community. He was a true legend. I went to visit him in the hospital just before he passed and his final words to me were “I will try to make it to practice tomorrow.” Wally was a pioneer in the hockey industry, and he will be missed by all.”
Coach was well known for his inspirational phrase: “Skate Fast. Skate Hard. Have Fun.” We promise to do just that every time we circle the rink at Centennial.
Thank you to all of our residents and staff who donated to the Shop ‘N Drop Food Drive, in partnership with SaLT: Service and Learning Together and the Highland Park/Highwood Rotary Club!
Pre-packaged food donations were collected to provide groceries to Highland Park and Highwood families facing food insecurities from Monday, August 14 to Sunday, September 10. The Park District collected over 1,000 items to help feed 75 families in need. Roughly 30 volunteers including 12 Park District employees volunteered on Friday, September 15 to sort and stuff grocery bags and then deliver them to local families in need.
The food drive and service event have contributed to:
In a thank you email from SaLT organizers, “These numbers are not just statistics; they represent the lives we’ve touched, the families we’ve supported, and the countless hours of service provided by our incredible team of Shop ‘N Drop Superheroes. None of this would have been possible without your collaboration and support.”